The Home Run Derby is one of the marquee events of the MLB season, but it’s typically dominated by players from other positions. It’s rare to see a catcher make a deep run in the competition — but Cal Raleigh had a historic moment of his own.
The Mariners catcher became the first — and so far, only — catcher to ever win the Home Run Derby. No other player at the position has managed to win the final and take home the title. Making it even more special: this was Raleigh’s first-ever appearance in the Derby.
It’s also incredibly rare to see a catcher not only make the Derby, but reach the final while leading the regular season in home runs — especially over big names like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. Raleigh capped off his title run by launching 18 home runs in the final.
How Many Catchers Have Reached the Home Run Derby Final?
Under the current Home Run Derby format — where two players face off in a final round — the only other catcher besides Raleigh to reach the final was Iván Rodríguez. At the time, Rodríguez was with the Tigers and fell short in the 2005 final, losing to the Phillies’ Bobby Abreu by a score of 11-5.
How much is the Derby winner paid?
The first-place prize for the 2025 edition was $1 million. For some Derby participants, like Oneil Cruz, this $1 million prize exceeded their annual salary, given that Cruz earns around $785,000, close to the league minimum.