Oneil Cruz Didn't Win the Home Run Derby
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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,
Pittsburgh Pirates star Oneil Cruz had a big night on Monday at the MLB Home Run Derby. Cruz blasted several homers, and came close to winning the event. Cruz used an unusual bat in the derby, with the iconic video game figure Donkey Kong on it.
Cruz set the record for the hardest hit home run of the Statcast era (since 2015) on May 25 against the Milwaukee Brewers right-handed starting pitcher Logan Henderson at PNC Park, hitting it with an exit velocity of 122.9 mph.
The Pittsburgh Pirates will almost certainly be aggressive sellers at the trade deadline, but that doesn't mean they will completely clean house.
Ahead of his scheduled start in the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes arrived to the festivities in style.