The Home Run Derby will feature eight players, including Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. as the final participant. Seattle's Cal Raleigh leads MLB with 36 home runs, aiming to break the catcher record. Players like Wood, Caminero, and Buxton have reached 20 homers, while Rooker is close. Acuña, returning from injury, has 11 home runs, and Cruz is noted for his historic exit velocities. Acuña will compete in his home park while last year's champion, Teoscar Hernández, opted out due to injury concerns.
Raleigh is MLB's home run leader with 36. He is well on track to surpass Salvador Perez's record of 48 homers by a catcher. There's a good chance Raleigh will become the first backstop in league history to hit 50.
Cruz has accounted for five of the top seven exit velocities in MLB this season. His 122.9 MPH home run off Milwaukee's Logan Henderson in May was the hardest-hit ball since Statcast began tracking a decade ago.
Acuña, who'll be playing at his home park, is appearing in the event for the third time. The other seven contestants are making their first Derby appearances.
Last year's champion, Teoscar Hernández, elected not to participate because he did not want to stress his legs after spending a couple weeks on the injured list in May with a left groin strain.
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