Sports
Pete Alonso, star first baseman for the New York Mets, has been a consistent presence in the Home Run Derby since he broke into the Major Leagues.
He was the winner of the event in 2019 as a rookie with the Cleveland Guardians and again in 2021, so Alonso became an iconic figure of the Derby. However, this 2025, for the first time since his debut, he has decided not to participate.
Female soldier absolutely dominates a male competitor during a cage match for a title
Alonso has not only been consistent in the Derby, but also in the current season. So far, he has maintained a batting average of .287, with 20 home runs and 73 RBIs. In the player’s own words, this break is more of a preparation measure than a total rest.
Why won’t Pete Alonso participate in the 2025 Home Run Derby?
The news began to generate speculation about the possible reasons for his absence, however, Alonso himself explained his decision clearly during an interview, ending all theories about why he will not be at this long-awaited event:“I’ve never fully enjoyed the three days off. So thinking about what’s best for me, I want to be in the best possible condition to help this team win in the second half,”Pete Alonso said
I love the event, it’s amazing. But this year I didn’t feel the motivation to do it. I decided to use the break as recovery and come back strong for the second half
The slugger, nicknamed The Polar Bear, is far from definitive, as he assures that he does not rule out competing again in the future:
I will definitely do it again. It doesn’t mean it’s a ‘no’ forever
In fact, he himself has already detailed the conditions under which he would like to participate in the future, making it clear that his absence is due to an extraordinary situation, and that his intention is to continue participating in the Home Run Derby in the future:
If there’s an All-Star Game at Citi Field or another stadium that I like to hit, like Fenway or Wrigley, sure
Partial list of participants in the 2025 Home Run Derby
Although several stars have opted out this year, the event still boasts a competitive lineup. Confirmed participants include:
- Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Braves, who will play at his home stadium, Truist Park.
- Cal Raleigh of the Mariners, the current home run leader in the league.
- James Wood, a promising Nationals outfielder, who recently confirmed his presence.
Who will not participate in the 2025 Home Run Derby?
In contrast, other prominent names have declined to participate, for example: Aaron Judge (Yankees) and Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers) will be absent this year, both for personal and format reasons.
While Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Pete Crow-Armstrong, Elly De La Cruz and Teoscar Hernandez have also decided not to compete, the reasons for their absence from the event have not been shared.
This news was originally published on this post .
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