Home Run Derby betting preview: Back Acuña in home ballpark
The lineup for the 2025 Home Run Derby was finalized Thursday, featuring eight of baseball's most powerful hitters.
Current home-run leader Cal Raleigh is the +300 favorite on ESPN BET and theScore Bet. The Mariners catcher has belted 36 dingers, two more than his closest challenger, Aaron Judge. While the Yankees star is the American League MVP favorite, Raleigh's got the second-best odds to win the honor amid his breakout season.
Aside from Raleigh, the event doesn't feature many of the league's home-run leaders - Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Eugenio Suárez, and Kyle Schwarber are all absent - but the field is still rich with talent.
James Wood, who is making his first All-Star Game appearance, is eighth in the league in homers with 24. Junior Caminero is right behind Wood with 23. Ronald Acuña Jr. would be higher on the list, but he's only played 42 games.
Oneil Cruz, Brent Rooker, Byron Buxton, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. round out the field for what should be an exciting Monday night event.
Home Run Derby odds
| Player | Odds | Current HR Total |
|---|---|---|
| Cal Raleigh | +300 | 36 |
| Oneil Cruz | +375 | 16 |
| Ronald Acuña Jr. | +375 | 11 |
| James Wood | +600 | 24 |
| Brent Rooker | +850 | 19 |
| Byron Buxton | +850 | 20 |
| Junior Caminero | +900 | 23 |
| Jazz Chisholm Jr. | +1000 | 17 |
Bet James Wood (+600)
Wood has catapulted his way into MLB's group of elite power hitters in his second season in the majors, giving Nationals fans reason to be excited about the organization's future. The left fielder has blasted 24 homers, 69 RBIs, and 99 hits.
While Woods is 6-foot-7 and tall hitters sometimes struggle at the derby, his exceptional strength and athleticism should allow him to crush balls in a batting practice setting; he hits the ball exceptionally hard and is toward the top of the league in exit velocity. This is Wood's first derby appearance, but that shouldn't prevent him from putting on a show in Atlanta.
Bet Ronald Acuña Jr. (+375)
Why not take a shot on the hometown star who's reasonably priced with the second-best odds? Acuña missed the first few weeks of the season while he recovered from a knee injury, but he's been on fire since his return in late May. He's bashed 11 home runs in 42 games and is one of baseball's best hitters when healthy. The Braves slugger is known for his power and uncanny distance on his homers.
The 2023 National League MVP already participated in two derby contests, and his best showing was a semifinal loss in 2019. Acuña's experience should help in his third go-round, especially alongside the familiarity of hitting in Truist Park with a raucous home crowd's support.
Sam Oshtry is a sports writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more betting coverage.
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