2025 Home Run Derby Participants: Twins’ Byron Buxton Joins Group

Minnesota Twins All-Star Byron Buxton announced he is going to compete in the 2025 Home Run Derby at Truist Park on Monday, July 14.

Buxton committed to the group of 2025 Home Run Derby participants after earning a second career All-Star Game selection. The festivities are going to be particularly meaningful for the Georgia native. This is Buxton’s first time participating in the Derby.

He’s looking to join Justin Morneau (2008) as the only Twins player to ever win the event.

Overall, Buxton is going to become the eighth different player in Twins franchise history to participate in the Home Run Derby. Overall, the franchise is now going to have nine total appearances in the annual showcase.

The group includes Tom Brunansky (1985), Gary Gaetti (1989), Torii Hunter (2002), Morneau (2007, 2008), Joe Mauer (2009), Brian Dozier (2014) and Miguel Sanó (2017).

Buxton has enjoyed a resurgent first half to the 2025 season after being limited to just 102 games last year. Buxton’s first career All-Star selection was for the 2022 game at Dodger Stadium.

Meanwhile, the 2025 Home Run Derby field is now halfway to being complete. The group won’t include defending champion Teoscar Hernández, who passed on the opportunity to repeat in the interest of health and focusing on the second half of the season.

Hernández became the first Los Angeles Dodgers player to win the Home Run Derby.

Teammate Shohei Ohtani and Elly De La Cruz also declined to participate this year. Ohtani cited the Home Run Derby format and his return to pitching as the reasons behind his decision.

Who is doing the 2025 Home Run Derby?

In addition to Buxton, the confirmed participants for this year’s Home Run Derby are Ronald Acuña Jr. of the host Atlanta Braves, Seattle Mariners All-Star Cal Raleigh and James Wood of the Washington Nationals.

Home Run Derby participants are going to wear special event jerseys that pay tribute to Babe Ruth (American League) and Hank Aaron (National League).