Pirates' Oneil Cruz Falls in Home Run Derby

Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton came in third with 20 home runs and Seattle Mariners catcher/designated hitter Cal Raleigh came in fourth with 17 home runs. Raleigh tied Athletics right fielder/designated hitter Brent Rooker with 17 home runs, but just beat out Rooker's farthest home run for the tie breaker.

Cruz became the first Pirates player that ever made it out of the first round. Bobby Bonilla had no home runs in 1990, Barry Bonds hit just two home runs in 1992, Jason Bay also had no home runs in 2005, Andrew McCutchen finished with four home runs in 2012 and Pedro Álvarez had six home runs in 2013.

Josh Bell, who competed in the same format as Cruz, had 18 home runs, but lost to Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. with 25 home runs in the First Round.

Cruz took first place and would face Raleigh in fourth place, while Caminero in second place battled Buxton in fourth place.

Caminero would outlast Buxton with nine home runs to eight home runs, putting himself in the final.

Cruz took on Raleigh, who leads the MLB at the All-Star break with 38 home runs, in the other battle of the second round.

Raleigh dominated, with 16 home runs in the regular period and then added three more for 19 home runs total after the bonus period.

Cruz would perform well himself, but fell short with just 10 home runs in the regular period and then three more for 13 home runs total, losing to Raleigh.

He finished with 34 home runs in the event, by far the most of any Pirates competitor before and 16 more than Bell in 2019.

Cruz has hit 16 home runs this season and Pirates fans will hope they see his power the rest of 2025.