Athletics slugger Brent Rooker knocked out of Home Run Derby by less than a foot

MLB All-Star Week at Truist Park in Atlanta was in full effect Monday night with the 2025 T-Mobile Home Run Derby, one of the league’s most anticipated showcase events.

The annual competition featured eight of baseball’s top sluggers battling to hit the most home runs in a three-minute round. Each batter received a bonus period, where every swing had to result in a home run or counted as an out. Players were allowed three outs in total, with the chance to earn a fourth by hitting a ball at least 425 feet during the bonus.

The Athletics’ right field slugger Brent Rooker competed in the All-Star hitting event, joined by Washington Nationals’ James Wood, Tampa Bay Rays’ Junior Caminero, Pittsburgh Pirates’ Oneil Cruz, Minnesota Twins’ Byron Buxton, New York Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr., Seattle Mariners’ Cal Raleigh and Atlanta Braves’ Matt Olson.

Rooker entered the derby with 20 home runs during the 2025 season. He was eliminated in the first round, finishing fifth overall.

Raleigh went on to win the 2025 Home Run Derby, the first catcher to win the competition.

The Mariners slugger outhit Cruz in the semifinal, 19-13, and defeated Caminero in the final, 18-15 — walking off with the title, a championship chain and $1 million.

Rooker started his round with three consecutive homers, including four in his first five swings. He finished the first round with 17 home runs, including one that traveled 471 feet.

As the top four hitters advanced to the next round, Rooker was edged out by Raleigh by less than an inch. Both hit 17 homers, but in a tie, the winner is determined by the longest home run.

Rooker’s longest blast, 471.53 feet, was topped by Raleigh’s 471.61-foot shot.

This story was originally published July 14, 2025 at 9:29 PM.