Here is a look at the monster home run that Pirates slugger Oneil Cruz clobbered in the first round of the 2025 Home Run Derby.

With his father, Todd, throwing to him and his little brother, Todd Jr., catching, Raleigh became the first catcher ever to win Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby when he bested Junior Caminero — who nearly became the youngest player to win the event — 18-15 in the finals.

Oneil Cruz entered the 2025 T-Mobile Home Run Derby as a betting favorite, despite having the least amount of home runs at the All-Star break among his fellow seven participants. Cruz ultimately fell in the semifinals to eventual winner Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners,

Ahead of his scheduled start in the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes arrived to the festivities in style.

In a great many ways, Cruz is a baseball anomaly. He, too, has predecessors, though, including one whose legacy is stamped quite literally on Cruz's identity: former Yankees and Reds outfielder Paul O'Neill.

Raleigh will become the second-ever player to switch hit in the Derby ( Adley Rutschman in 2023, lost 2nd round), plus no catcher has ever won the derby. This is year 39 of the event, so odds are against Raleigh despite him being the favorite.

The Pittsburgh Pirates will almost certainly be aggressive sellers at the trade deadline, but that doesn't mean they will completely clean house.