ATLANTA – Excitement is building at Truist Park for baseball fans as the MLB All-Star Game celebrations continue.
On Monday, some of baseball’s biggest sluggers will take the field to show off their power in the 2025 T-Mobile Home Run Derby.
SEE MORE: 2025 MLB All-Star Game in Atlanta | Everything you need to know
Home Run Derby 2025 time
What we know:
The Home Run Derby will kick off at 8 p.m. after the Gatorade All-Star Workout Day at The Battery.
One big change in the event: The Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. won’t participate. Instead, he’s been replaced by his teammate and fellow All-Star Matt Olson.
Olson competed in the 2021 derby while with the Athletics. He was eliminated in the first round. The 31-year-old entered the weekend with 17 homers this season.
Acuña is still expected to play in the All-Star Game on his home field on Tuesday.
The other scheduled participants are Brent Rooker, the first for the Athletics since Olson, along with Minnesota’s Byron Buxton, Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the Yankees, Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz, Seattle’s Cal Raleigh and James Wood of Washington.
Tickets for the event start at $248. You can learn more here.
MLB Home Run Derby 2025
What they’re saying:
“This is kind of a bucket list trip,” said Jeff Perkins, a St. Louis Cardinals fan. “Always wanted to come. This is the closest to where we live outside of Saint Louis. We’re big Saint Louis Cardinal fans.”
The Wilson family traveled from Cleveland, Ohio, marking their 11th consecutive MLB All-Star weekend.
“My dad’s in love with it. My sister’s in love with it. I’m obsessed with it,” said Johnny Wilson III. “It’s a great time. You know? The best players — can’t beat it.”
Maddie Wilson added, “We decided it would be our family vacation every year. So wherever the city it was being hosted, we would go and explore, maybe a day or two extra.”
Her father, John Wilson, said they’ve “been all around the country for baseball,” and praised Atlanta’s hosting efforts this year. “Every year it seems to get better, bigger and better and just more fun,” he said.
The Home Run Derby, known for its display of jaw-dropping power and flair, drew fans of all ages. Many wore team gear and showed up early for a chance to catch a souvenir or snap a photo with their favorite players.
Scott Mitton made the trip from Syracuse, New York, with his son. “We’ve been big baseball fans since he was little,” he said. “It’s on our bucket list to come here and do this. So we came for the Home Run Derby to check it out.”
Even those without tickets to the event said being near the action was worth the trip.
“It’s not often that it comes around,” said Atlanta Braves fan Kaytie Eastin. “So it’s nice when we get to come here and just hang out and be a part of the celebration.”
Home Run Derby weather forecast
Dig deeper:
Get ready for some heat if you’re planning to go and cheer on the players during the Home Run Derby.
It will be hot on Monday afternoon, with high temperatures combining with the humidity to make it feel like we’re past the triple digits.
There’s only a 20% chance of rain, so not much opportunity to help drop temperatures. That 20% chance of rain will stick around through game time. It will be in the 90s when the Home Run Derby begins.
Road Closures
What you can do:
Several roads around Truist Park have been closed since the events began and will continue to be shut down through the conclusion of the game on July 15. Drivers are advised to plan ahead.
Parking & Transportation
Don’t get caught unprepared with parking. FOX 5 has received reports of many cars being towed from the Cumberland Mall and other locations within walking distance of the All-Star Village.
Public parking is available in select lots around Truist Park. Entrances and parking lots will open at various times.
Click here for full parking & transportation details
Officials strongly recommend you pay for parking in advance to avoid delays.
Rideshare
There will be designated pickup and drop-off zones for rideshare services at the north and south ends of The Battery Atlanta.
Public Transit
Atlanta’s MARTA doesn’t directly serve Truist Park. For the All-Star Game, enhanced shuttle services are expected from the Arts Center and Dunwoody MARTA stations.
The Source: Information for this article came from previous FOX 5 stories and reports from FOX 5’s Kaitlyn Pratt and the FOX 5 Storm Team’s Joanne Feldman.
