NEW YORK — Braves star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. announced Wednesday that he’ll be participating in the Home Run Derby at Truist Park on July 14. He shared the news on ESPN’s 6 p.m. SportsCenter.
“I’m happy to announce that I’ll be participating in this year’s Home Run Derby,” Acuña said on ESPN (via team interpreter Franco Garcia). “I’m even more excited to be doing it at home in Atlanta in front of our fans. They’re a big reason why I’m doing it, because of their continued support. So I’m excited to be home and doing this for them. I’m thankful for that.”
Acuña, 27, will become the first Braves player to play in the Home Run Derby at his home ballpark since Chipper Jones participated at Turner Field in 2000.
The Braves have never had a player win the derby.
This will be the third time Acuña has done the derby, following 2019 and 2022. He was eliminated in the first round by the Mets’ Pete Alonso on both occasions.
“The expectation and the goal is always to win,” Acuña said. He’s the first player to commit to doing this year’s competition.
Acuña, the 2023 National League MVP, has been sensational since returning in late May. He’s hitting .385 with a 1.188 OPS in 29 games. He’s arguably the best player in baseball and has earned serious consideration for a spot on the All-Star team despite his limited games played. This would be his fifth All-Star appearance.
After Wednesday’s loss in New York, Acuña spoke with reporters about his commitment to the derby. He said he doesn’t have a preference on whom he matches up against, but that there “many, many” friends he’d love to see join him.
Braves bullpen catcher José Yépez will throw to Acuña, the player confirmed. Yépez threw to designated hitter Marcell Ozuna when he participated in the derby last summer in Arlington.
If MLB wanted an additional Brave in the derby, there would be options. First baseman Matt Olson, an Atlanta native, would be a logical invitee (he did it in 2021 but declined an invitation two years ago). Third baseman Austin Riley, one of the franchise’s leaders, has never done a derby. Designated hitter Marcell Ozuna partook in 2024.
Past Braves to participate in the derby include Dale Murphy (1985), Ozzie Virgil (1987), David Justice (1993), Fred McGriff (1994), Jones (1997-98, 2000), Javy Lopez (1998), Gary Sheffield (2003), Andruw Jones (2005), Freddie Freeman (2019, 2022) and Ozuna (2024).
The 2025 Home Run Derby is part of the week’s extravaganza that will culminate with the All-Star game on July 15 at 8 p.m. on ESPN.
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