Latest news with #Caminero
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Cal Raleigh delivered 4 hilarious words about kid who robbed HR Derby ball
It ultimately didn't matter on Monday at the 2025 MLB Home Run Derby: one of the kids tasked with shagging fly balls at the event in Atlanta leaped up to rob Junior Caminero of one of his dingers at the wall. The homer run was counted, so no harm, no foul. And Cal Raleigh took down the Tampa Bay Rays rookie sensation with 18 dingers in the final round to Caminero's 15. So either way, it ultimately didn't matter that the kid jumped up to grab the ball. That being said, that was all anyone could talk about after the contest. So what did Raleigh say after all that? He had to joke about it, and the punchline was perfect: "I paid him off." Well played, Big Dumper. What did Junior Caminero say about the kid who robbed his home run? This is the best. Via 'Things happen,' Caminero said through an interpreter. 'He was enjoying himself out there too. He did something he thought was fun and it was fine.' No big deal! It's fun! That's the spirit!
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Cal Raleigh wins Home Run Derby chain: Here's how much it is worth and other prize money details
Cal Raleigh defeated Tampa Bay's Junior Caminero 18-15 in Monday's Home Run Derby final to become the first catcher to win the iconic derby chain. The 28-year-old, who leads MLB with 38 homers this season, won $1 million in prize money. He was handed a WWE-like belt by Cody Rhodes. Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) holds the trophy after winning the 2025 Home Run Derby(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) "It means the world," Raleigh said. "I could have hit zero home runs and had just as much fun. I just can't believe I won. It's unbelievable." Raleigh, who advanced from the first round by less than an inch (25.4mm) on a longest homer tiebreaker, had his father Todd pitching to him and his brother Todd Jr. as catcher. "It's just a great accomplishment and I think that every dad... this is what they dreamed about," Todd Raleigh Sr. said. To see it come true for your son is unbelievable." Value of the 2025 Home Run Derby Chain The 2025 Home Run Derby chain, presented by T-Mobile, is a diamond-encrusted piece featuring the phrase 'Keep Swinging'. While specific details for 2025 are limited, the 2024 chain weighed 995 grams with 915 brilliant-cut prong-set diamonds in a Texas-themed belt buckle design. The 2023 chain, adorned with over 1,000 stones, weighed three pounds. No official appraisal exists for the 2025 chain, but based on prior years, estimates range widely. The chain, introduced in 2019 after Pete Alonso wore a medallion gifted by Daddy Yankee, is now a Derby tradition, complementing the $1 million prize and stainless steel trophy. Raleigh, one shy of the MLB record 39 homers by Barry Bonds before an All-Star break, is on pace to set a one-season record for MLB homers by a catcher. The final pitted the Rays' Caminero, a 22-year-old Dominican third baseman using a bat with his image on it, against Raleigh. It featured two minutes or 27 pitches plus earned bonus time. Raleigh smashed 18 homers, setting a tough target for Caminero, who smacked homers off seven of the first 10 pitches he faced and 14 homers in all after regulation time. Needing four more to force a swing-off, Caminero could add only one in the extra session and when his final hit fell short of the outfield wall, Raleigh had the title. Caminero, who would have been the youngest Derby winner, earns less for the season salary, $764,000, than Raleigh took home. (With AFP inputs)
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
With family support, Cal Raleigh becomes first catcher, switch-hitter to win Home Run Derby
ATLANTA (AP) — Cal Raleigh approached the All-Star Home Run Derby like a day on the lawn. Dad was on the mound and baby brother was behind the plate. Only this time, there were tens of thousands looking on at Truist Park and a $1 million prize. 'It goes all the way back to him coming home and me forcing him to throw me a ball and hit it in the backyard or in the house or something we probably shouldn't be doing,' a beaming Cal said, flanked by Todd and Todd Jr. after defeating Tampa Bay's Junior Caminero 18-15 in the final round Monday night. Todd Raleigh, former coach of Tennessee and Western Carolina, threw the pitches and Cal's 15-year-old brother, Todd Raleigh Jr., did the catching. A first-time All-Star at age 28, Cal became the first switch-hitter and first catcher to win the title. He's the second Mariners player to take the title after three-time winner Ken Griffey Jr., who was on the field snapping photos. 'Anybody that's ever played baseball as a kid dreams of stuff like this,' Cal's dad said. 'I dreamed of it. He dreamed of it. When you're a parent, you look at it differently because you want your kids to be happy.' Leading the major leagues with 38 home runs at the All-Star break, Cal almost didn't make it past the first round. The Mariners' breakout slugger nicknamed Big Dumper and the Athletics' Brent Rooker each hit 17 homers, and Raleigh advanced on a tiebreaker for longest long ball: 470.61 feet to 470.53 — or 0.96 inches. At first, Cal wasn't aware whether there would be a swing-off. 'An inch off, and I'm not even in the final four, which is amazing,' Cal said. 'So I guess I got lucky there. One extra biscuit.' Raleigh totalled 54 homers. He won his semifinal 19-13 over Pittsburgh's Oneil Cruz, whose 513-foot first-round drive over the right-centre field seats was the longest of the night. Cal's brother, nicknamed T, kept yelling encouragement to the brother he so admires. 'His swag, the way he plays, the way he hustles,' T said. Hitting second in the final round, the 22-year-old Caminero closed within three dingers — MLB counted one that a fan outfielder caught with an over-the-wall grab. Using a multicoloured bat and down to his last out, Caminero took three pitches and hit a liner to left. 'I didn't think I was going to hit as many home runs or make it to the finals,' Caminero said through a translator. Cal was just the second Derby switch-hitter after Baltimore's Adley Rutschman in 2023. His dad was a righty and wanted both his sons to hit from both sides. 'Did it from the first day, when he was in diapers, literally,' Todd Sr. said. 'I would take that big ball and he had a big red bat. I'd throw it slow and he'd hit it. Then I'd say stay there, pick him up, turn him around, switch his hands and do it again. I was a catcher. I played a little bit, and I just knew what a premium it was. I didn't want either one of my boys to ever say, am I right-handed or left-handed?' There was a downside. 'I don't recommend it if you have two kids, they're both switch hitters, if you want to save your arm, because that's a lot of throwing,' said dad, who had rotator cuff surgery. Raleigh hit his first eight homers left-handed, took a timeout, then hit seven right-handed. Going back to lefty, he hit two more in the bonus round and stayed lefty for the rest of the night. 'Was grooving a little bit more lefty so we were like, since we have a chance to win, we might as well stick to the side that's working a little better,' Cal said. Caminero beat Minnesota's Byron Buxton 8-7 in the other semifinal. Atlanta's Matt Olson, Washington's James Wood, the New York Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Rooker were eliminated in the first round of the annual power show. Cruz's long drive was the hardest-hit at 118 miles per hour. Wood hit 16 homers, including one that landed on the roof of the Chop House behind the right-field wall. Olson, disappointing his hometown fans, did not go deep on his first nine swings and finished with 15, Chisholm hit just three homers, the fewest since the timer format started in 2015. After it was all over, the Raleighs headed out. Stephanie, the boys' mom and Todd Sr.'s wife, is surrounded by baseball. 'We kind of leave it in the cage. We've got a cage at home, a building,' Todd Sr. said. 'Or we leave it in the car on the rides home. There's probably been a few times where she says, yeah, that's enough.' ___ AP MLB:
Fox Sports
2 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
With family support, Cal Raleigh becomes first catcher, switch-hitter to win Home Run Derby
Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — Cal Raleigh approached the All-Star Home Run Derby like a day on the lawn. Dad was on the mound and baby brother was behind the plate. Only this time, there were tens of thousands looking on at Truist Park and a $1 million prize. 'It goes all the way back to him coming home and me forcing him to throw me a ball and hit it in the backyard or in the house or something probably shouldn't be doing,' a beaming Cal said, flanked by Todd and Todd Jr. after defeating Tampa Bay's Junior Caminero 18-15 in the final round Monday night. Todd Raleigh, former coach of Tennessee and Western Carolina, threw the pitches and Cal's 15-year-old brother, Todd Raleigh Jr., did the catching. A first-time All-Star at age 28, Cal became the first switch-hitter and first catcher to win the title. He's the second Mariners player to take the title after three-time winner Ken Griffey Jr., who was on the field, snapping photos. 'Anybody that's ever played baseball as a kid dreams of stuff like this,' Cal's dad said. 'I dreamed of it. He dreamed of it. When you're a parent, you look at it differently because you want your kids to be happy.' Leading the major leagues with 38 home runs at the All-Star break, Cal almost didn't make it past the first round. The Mariners' breakout slugger nicknamed Big Dumper and the Athletics' Brent Rooker each hit 17 homers, and Raleigh advanced on a tiebreaker for longest long ball: 470.61 feet to 470.53 — or 0.96 inches. At first, Cal wasn't aware whether there would be a swing-off. 'An inch off, and I'm not even in the final four, which is amazing,' Cal said. 'So I guess I got lucky there. One extra biscuit.' Raleigh totaled 54 homers. He won his semifinal 19-13 over Pittsburgh's Oneil Cruz, whose 513-foot first-round drive over the right-center field seats was the longest of the night. Cal's brother, nicknamed T, kept yelling encouragement to the brother he so admires. 'His swag, the way he plays, the way he hustles,' T said. Hitting second in the final round, the 22-year-old Caminero closed within three dingers — MLB counted one that a fan outfielder caught with an over-the-wall grab. Using a multicolored bat and down to his last out, Caminero took three pitches and hit a liner to left. 'I didn't think I was going to hit as many home runs or make it to the finals,' Caminero said through a translator. Cal was just the second Derby switch-hitter after Baltimore's Adley Rutschman in 2023. His dad was a righty and wanted both his sons to hit from both sides. 'Did it from the first day, when he was in diapers, literally,' Todd Sr. said. 'I would take that big ball and he had a big red bat. I'd throw it slow and he'd hit it. Then I'd say stay there, pick him up, turn him around, switch his hands and do it again. I was a catcher. I played a little bit, and I just knew what a premium it was. I didn't want either one of my boys to ever say, am I right-handed or left-handed?' There was a downside. 'I don't recommend it if you have two kids, they're both switch hitters, if you want to save your arm, because that's a lot of throwing,' said dad, who had rotator cuff surgery. Raleigh hit his first eight homers left-handed, took a timeout, then hit seven right-handed. Going back to lefty, he hit two more in the bonus round and stayed lefty for the rest of the night. 'Was grooving a little bit more lefty so we were like, since we have a chance to win, we might as well stick to the side that's working a little better,' Cal said. Caminero beat Minnesota's Byron Buxton 8-7 in the other semifinal. Atlanta's Matt Olson, Washington's James Wood, the New York Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Rooker were eliminated in the first round of the annual power show. Cruz's long drive was the hardest-hit at 118 mph. Wood hit 16 homers, including one that landed on the roof of the Chop House behind the right-field wall. Olson, disappointing his hometown fans, did not go deep on his first nine swings and finished with 15, Chisholm hit just three homers, the fewest since the timer format started in 2015. After it was all over, the Raleighs headed out. Stephanie, the boys' mom and Todd Sr.'s wife, is surrounded by baseball. 'We kind of leave it in the cage. We've got a cage at home, a building," Todd Sr. said. 'Or we leave it in the car on the rides home. There's probably been a few times where she says, yeah, that's enough.' ___ AP MLB: recommended Item 1 of 3
UPI
2 days ago
- Sport
- UPI
Watch: Mariners' Cal Raleigh becomes first catcher to win MLB Home Run Derby
July 14 (UPI) -- Cal Raleigh rolled his wrists, dipped his right shoulder and obliterated 18 final-round blasts, out-slugging Junior Caminero to win the 2025 MLB Home Run Derby on Monday in Atlanta. With the victory, Raleigh became the first catcher in MLB history to win the event. The Seattle Mariners star, who hit pitches thrown by his dad while using his brother as a catcher, also took home $1 million. The Big Dumper totaled 54 homers through the three-round event. "It means the world," Raleigh said on the ESPN broadcast. "I could've hit zero home runs and I would have had just as much fun. "It's unbelievable." Raleigh, who leads MLB with 38 home runs at the All-Star break, is the second Mariners player to win the event, joining Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. Caminero hit 44 blasts, including 21 in the first round. The Tampa Bay Rays third baseman hit 15 in his face-off with Raleigh. Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz hit the longest home run of the night with a 513-foot shot to right field in his semifinal showdown with Raleigh. Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton was the other semifinalist. Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood, Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson, Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker and New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. were eliminated in the opening round. The MLB sluggers obliterated baseballs throughout the event, often clearing the Chop House restaurant in right field at Truist Park. Wood started the night with 16 first-round homers, including a 486-foot blast to right field. Rooker followed with 17 blasts, including three that traveled farther than 450 feet. Caminero hit 21 home runs in the next exchange before Cruz matched Caminero's 21 first-round homers. Buxton hit 20 in the next plate appearance. Chisholm struggled to find a rhythm, totaling just three homers. Raleigh followed with 17, tying Rooker. Olson ended the first round with 15. Despite tying Rooker, Raleigh advanced to the semifinals because his longest home run traveled 470.61 feet, compared to Rooker's longest at 470.54 feet. Caminero eliminated Buxton in the first semifinal, out-slugging the Twins outfielder 8-7. Raleigh started the second semifinal with 19 bombs, which proved to be enough to beat Cruz's 13 and put him in the finale. Raleigh started the final round with his 18 bombs, building a respectable cushion on Caminero. The Rays infielder came close to catching Raleigh down the stretch, hitting 14 blasts in the timed portion of the round. But he hit just one more in the bonus portion, falling short of Raleigh's total. MLB stars will take the field for the 2025 All-Star Game at 8 p.m. EDT Tuesday in Atlanta. The Midsummer Classic will air on Fox.
