Participating in the Home Run Derby isn’t just a personal achievement — many contestants utilize family members, friends or members of their coaching staff that get to soak in the fun.
It’s no different for the 2025 T-Mobile Home Run Derby, as we have a contestant using his dad and a handful of hitters using coaches that have been a part of their baseball journey. As we’ve seen in years past, the job of Home Run Derby pitcher is no joke, especially since the rules format changed in 2015 from an “Outs” system (i.e. 10 outs per round, regardless of how quickly the pitches came) to a clock-based system.
Without further ado, here are the eight Home Run Derby pitchers we will see in Atlanta next week.
Pitcher: Braves Major League Coach Eddie PérezOlson was just a toddler in suburban Atlanta when Pérez became a Braves fan favorite. The 1999 National League Championship Series MVP is best known as the guy who caught Greg Maddux more than anyone else in the Hall of Fame pitcher’s career. Pérez has been a regular member of Atlanta’s coaching staff for the large part of nearly two decades.
Quote: “It’s something you dream about doing, and being a little kid, and I went to the last Home Run Derby in Atlanta. I had visions of doing it myself, so to be able to get the chance, I thank Ronald [Acuña Jr.].” — Olson
Pitcher: Dad, Todd Raleigh
This is hardly the first time that a Derby contestant will have his father throw to him, but for Cal in particular, there will be an even broader Raleigh family gathering, as his 15-year-old brother Todd Jr. — known as “T” — will be behind the plate. Todd Sr. is a former Division I head baseball coach, notably at the University of Tennessee and Western Carolina University, but the most gratifying coaching moments for the 56-year-old have been when sharing the dugout with his sons. And it will all come full circle for the Raleighs on Monday night.
Quote: “As a dad, it doesn’t get any better than that. It’s all downhill from there. To be able to be there with him on the field and have ‘T’ involved, I mean, it’s kind of like one of those Hallmark moments.” — Todd Raleigh
Pitcher: Nationals third-base coach Ricky Gutierrez
Gutierrez throws batting practice to the lefty-hitting Wood during the season. Considering Wood already has 24 home runs in his first full year in the big leagues, their tandem is working. Gutierrez is a 12-year Major League veteran (1993-2004). This will be his first time pitching in the Home Run Derby.
Quote: “I face him the most. I’m the most comfortable with him. I probably have my best rounds off him, too. It made it easier … I just like his arm motion. It’s easy to pick up. If he was a pitcher, I’d probably hit pretty well off him. [laughs]” — Wood
Pitcher: Third-base coach Tommy WatkinsWatkins, a beloved member of the Twins’ coaching staff, has known Buxton since Buxton played and Watkins coached for the then Low-A Cedar Rapids in 2013. He’s been on the Twins’ coaching staff since 2019, as a first-base coach and then a third-base coach, and is also quite the thrower of batting practice.
Quotes: “Me and Tommy have been together now since 2013? So I’ve seen his BP quite a bit now. It’s a special moment. Somebody that’s been with me pretty much my whole career, as a coach, and to have him be able to go with me is a good moment.” — Buxton
“There’s a lot of people around here very happy for Tommy Watkins. Excited to see his mug on TV and that great BP stroke that he has out there. Something tells me his smile is going to light up the screen at some point along the way, and we’ll all have that image forever. Which, what else could we ask for?” — manager Rocco Baldelli
Pitcher: Assistant coach and translator Stephen Morales
Morales is one of the most popular coaches on the Pirates staff and has developed a kinship with Cruz over the years. Morales throws pregame batting practice to Cruz and has been known to poke the bear at times to try to help the slugger get his head right. That familiarity and trust made Morales an easy choice for Cruz.
Quote: “He’s our best BP guy, and I know he’s going to groove it in there for him. What a great asset for us in this organization, to have a guy like Mo. He does so many things for us: Translating, No. 1 BP guy, coaching the infield, outfield, just doing everything. He’s a huge asset for us.” — manager Don Kelly
Pitcher: Stepfather Geron Sands
Dating back to when Chisholm was a kid, Sands was his batting practice pitcher. Sands threw to Chisholm as recently as last winter when the latter participated in the Don’t Blink Home Run Derby in the Bahamas. Over the years, Chisholm would face Sands in the derby. Chisholm promised Sands he would throw to him on a big league field one day. Promise fulfilled. It will happen on Monday.
Quote: “I’m not trying to think that hard about [the Derby]. I’m not even going to practice for it. The only person that needs practice is my stepdad. For me, I’ll just go out there, have fun, work 70 percent, don’t do too much, just hit a couple of home runs. Hopefully, I’ll win it by doing that.” — Chisholm
Pitcher: Joe Caruso
Caruso was Rooker’s hitting coach from the age of 9 through high school while growing up in Memphis. Now, Caruso throws BP to Rooker back home in Tennessee every offseason. Rooker discussed the possibility of the Home Run Derby with Caruso this offseason and promised he would bring him along as his pitcher for the event if his name were called.
Quote: “He’s probably seen me hit in the cage more than anybody and has thrown to me more than anybody, so it should be a good relationship out there. … Being able to make that call and tell him we’re going to do it was pretty cool.” — Rooker
Pitcher: Major League field coordinator Tomas Francisco
This will be the second Home Run Derby in three years for Francisco, the Major League field coordinator on Tampa Bay’s big league coaching staff. Two years ago, Francisco pitched to Randy Arozarena when he finished as the runner-up to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Francisco, 37, is in his third season on manager Kevin Cash’s staff.
Quote: “He’s a very consistent guy when he throws the ball, so I’m not going to try to do too much. I’m just gonna try to make contact with the ball and just try to have my regular swing. … To me, he’s the best BP thrower that we have — and probably anywhere.” — Caminero, via interpreter Eddie Rodriguez
