Cal Raleigh's Home Run Derby win boosts ESPN ratings by 5%
ESPN said Tuesday that viewership for Cal Raleigh's Home Run Derby victory was up 5% from 2024, according to Nielsen ratings. Raleigh's win over fellow finalist Junior Caminero of Tampa Bay drew an average audience of 5,729,000 viewers, up from 5,451,000 viewers in 2024 when Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Teoscar Hernández topped Bobby Witt Jr. in the finals.
Advertisement
ESPN says the combined audience on ESPN and ESPN2 peaked with 6,307,000 viewers at 9:30 p.m. ET. That made the Home Run Derby one of the most-watched programs of the day, including all broadcast and cable choices.
Raleigh's father, Todd was his personal pitcher for the event. The Seattle catcher's 15-year-old brother, Todd Jr., was his catcher. The elder Raleigh is a former coach of Tennessee and Western Carolina.
Raleigh, 28, leads the majors with 38 homers and 82 RBIs and is the American League's starting catcher in Tuesday night's All-Star Game.
Raleigh became the second Mariners player to take the title, following three-time winner Ken Griffey Jr., who was on the field, snapping photos.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
The Associated Press
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Son Heung-min admits LAFC wasn't his first choice
When Son Heung-min was finally allowed to speak, some 22 minutes after the press conference began, the South Korean national team captain admitted that LAFC wasn't his first choice, but that he's arrived in Los Angeles to win. (Photo by) Son Heung-min was unveiled as a Los Angeles Football Club player on Wednesday 6th August, local time. The club had teased the unveiling the day before with word of a "major announcement" circulating at the Leagues Cup match the night before, a match that Son was seen watching from the VIP box. That major announcement was that the club have signed Son Heung-min on a contract until 2027 with an option to extend to 2029, taking him to his 35th or potential 37th birthday. Those in attendance and those watching the live stream on YouTube were made to wait for Son to be finally allowed to speak, but when he did, he expressed his delight at signing for the club. "I feel like my dream came true. Thank you to the group of owners who have worked hard for me to come to this team. Honestly, this team wasn't my first choice. But when I first heard from John Thorrington after the season, my mind, my mind completely changed. He showed me a direction to go in this team. Now I'm here, and I'm happy. I'm happy to see Korean fans." "The atmosphere in the stadium was really huge. Watching the Leagues Cup game in person the day before. I wanted to run right away and show my skills. I just thank everyone who worked so hard for me to come to this team. I'm here to win. I'll try to show you something exciting." Why LAFC? Even before arriving in LA, before departing Korea, Son went on record saying that he decision had been made with the World Cup in mind. "[It] could be my last World Cup, so I thought it should be an environment where I can put everything into it." Those leading the press conference emphasised that LA is home to the most Koreans outside of Seoul, and Son acknowledged that this was a major factor. "There are many reasons why LA and LAFC was a destination for me. As a Korean to know that Korea Town has so many Koreans. I'm proud of this club and I will do the best I can to represent this city." The move also represents a new challenge. "Just because I had a successful career in Europe doesn't mean I will here. So I want to see this as a new challenge and do my best and all that. I want to give back to the ownership and the team and the club, and do the best I can and leave when the time comes as a legend of the club." He's also determined to add more medals to his collection before he leaves MLS. "I'm here to win, and I will perform, and I will definitely show you something exciting. I will definitely show some exciting football, and we definitely will have success." Why did he leave Spurs? "I felt like I gave it my all. I felt like I needed a new chapter. You could say I'm old, but I still have a good physicality, good legs, good qualities. I'm here to perform, but also I want to give some advice to the young players for improvement. I can't wait to meet all the players, the team."
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'That kind of humility is rare in players who've been at the very top' - Inter Miami's Javier Mascherano praises Luis Suárez after 3–1 win over Pumas in Leagues Cup
Luis Suárez scored and provided two assists Inter Miami now sit on eight points Rodrigo De Paul netted his first goal as a Heron WHAT HAPPENED? Following Inter Miami's 3-1 win over Pumas at Chase Stadium - a result that secured their spot in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals - head coach Javier Mascherano took a moment to highlight the leadership, commitment, and work ethic of star striker Luis Suarez. The Urugyan legend has come under criticism for his lack of scoring this season, but he continues to lead the way for Miami with MLS assists at 10. The 38-year-old ended a nine-game scoring drought across all competitions in Wednesday's win and also added two assists in a standout performance. 'He's always thinking about the team. Even when he doesn't have the ball, he works to reorganize. That kind of humility is rare in players who've been at the very top. I'm really happy for him,' said Mascherano. Mascherano shared similar sentiments toward veterans Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. Their strong performances were even more valuable given the absence of Lionel Messi, who missed the match due to injury. 'They're always looking to help the team - and help me,' Mascherano said. 'I had the chance to play alongside them, and they're incredibly smart. They understand what we need. Today, we asked Busquets to shift into a back three, and he did it instantly. You don't even need to look at the bench when you can make tactical adjustments with the players on the field.' With the win over Pumas, the Herons reached eight points and currently sit atop the MLS group standings, officially securing their spot in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals. WHAT JAVIER MASCHERANO SAID As for Rodrigo De Paul, who netted his first goal for the club just a week after coming to South Florida, Mascherano was impressed by his quick impact and attitude. 'Rodrigo's equalizer came at a great time - it gave us a sense of calm going into halftime," Mascherano said. "We were clearly the better team in the second half. To play three matches in seven days, coming straight from vacation, with that level of effort and energy - it says a lot. He's already making a big difference for us.' DID YOU KNOW? With Inter Miami's 3-1 win over Pumas, all four of Liga MX's so-called 'big clubs' - América, Chivas, Cruz Azul, and Pumas - have officially been eliminated in the group stage. These teams, known for their rich history and massive fanbases, are now out of the 2025 Leagues Cup. WHAT NEXT FOR INTER MIAMI? The Herons will face Orlando City this Sunday at Chase Stadium in an MLS matchup.
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Congratulations Pouring In For Former NFL Star Colin Kaepernick
Congratulations Pouring In For Former NFL Star Colin Kaepernick originally appeared on The Spun. Colin Kaepernick hasn't received an NFL contract for the 2025 season, but congratulations are in order for the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback. Prior to his fallout in 2016, Kaepernick had a fairly successful run with the 49ers. He led the franchise to a Super Bowl appearance during the 2012 season and set a single-game record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in his postseason debut against the Green Bay Packers. The former second-round pick from Nevada finished his NFL career with 12,271 passing yards, 2,300 rushing yards and 85 total touchdowns. Off the field, Kaepernick has been with radio personality Nessa Diab since 2015. They welcomed their first child together in August of 2022. "I thought long and hard about sharing our life changing news today. I decided to do so because today is the first day in a few weeks where I stepped out for work with a new life title—MOM," Diab wrote on Instagram. "Colin and I welcomed our amazing baby to the world a few weeks ago and we are over the moon with our growing family." Earlier this week, Diab shocked the world when she revealed that she's been married to Kaepernick for a few years. NFL fans were unaware of that. That being said, NFL fans are wishing Kaepernick and Diab all the best. "Congrats! Former 49ers star QB Colin Kaepernick got married to his longtime girlfriend, TV host Nessa. The beautiful couple have been together for over 10 years now and have one child together. Colin still trains every day to make his NFL return," content creator Dov Kleiman wrote on X. "Congratulations to the Kaepernick's," one fan said. "Congrats," a second fan wrote. "Now how about a contract with the UFL?" "Good for him," a social media user commented. Diab soft-launched her marriage in July when she said this in an Instagram video: "I'm not Colin's girlfriend or roommate or whatever — I'm his wife." Now that all the rumors have been put to rest, Diab and Kaepernick can enjoy married life in peace. Congratulations Pouring In For Former NFL Star Colin Kaepernick first appeared on The Spun on Aug 7, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Aug 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
