The MLB All-Star break is off to the races and will be kicked off with the 2025 Home Run Derby. Eight of the most feared hitters in baseball will showcase their ability to hit for power and compete to hit the most home runs.
There are a variety of markets offered on DraftKings Sportsbook, including head-to-head matchups, exit velocity, distance of home run, as well as the overall winner.
Home Run Derby Public Betting Splits:
Looking at the bets placed on DraftKings Sportsbook, there are some notable trends for who MLB fans are backing.
James Wood (+450) holds the highest percentage of bets placed at 23% and betting handle at 29% to win the Home Run Derby. 51% of the bets placed and 64% of the betting handle on DraftKings Sportsbook are also backing the Nationals’ standout to hit his longest home run over 464.5 feet, while 76% of the bets placed and 78% of the betting handle are backing Wood to record over 20.5 home runs. The 22-year-old would be the youngest player to win the Home Run Derby, but he stands 6-foot-7 with the fifth-best exit velocity in the MLB while ranking above the 95th percentile in hard-hit rate, average exit velocity and barrel rate.
Current MLB home run leader Cal Raleigh (+295) is backed at the next-highest rate with 21% of the bets and 22% of the betting handle backing the Mariners’ standout to win the contest. Raleigh enters with 38 home runs already on the season and is looking the become the first catcher to ever win the Home Run Derby. However, 75% of bets and 82% of the betting handle are backing his longest home run to be under 454.5 feet. There is also an interesting split in public and sharp money on his home run total, as 55% of bets on DraftKings Sportsbook have been placed on Raleigh to tally over 21.5 home runs in the opening round, but 71% of the betting handle is on the under. Raleigh does have the largest number of bets (23%) and the highest percentage of the betting handle (40%) backing him to hit the most home runs in the opening round.
Oneil Cruz (+340) makes up 11% of the bets and 10% of the betting handle while entering as the second-favorite for the contest. The Pirates slugger holds the MLB record for fastest exit velocity at 122.9 MPH and has registered 11 of the 19 fastest exit velocities since coming to the MLB in 2022. He holds +115 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook of recording the best exit velocity in the contest, with 80% of the bets and 86% of the betting handle backing Cruz. He is also backed by 20% of bets and 27% of the betting handle to launch the longest home run. His over/under for first-round home runs is set at 21.5, with 64% of the bets and 81% of the betting handle backing Cruz to go over this number. 68% of the bets and 70% of the betting handle are backing Cruz’s longest home run to go over 471.5 feet.
Junior Caminero (+1200) has brought in 10% of the bets and 10% of the betting handle to win the Home Run Derby despite holding the largest odds. 66% of the bets and 83% of the betting handle are also backing him to record over 17.5 home runs in the opening round, and 19% of bets have been placed on Caminero posting the highest exit velocity. However, 75% of the bets and 91% of the betting handle are backing his longest home run to be under 445.5 feet.
Next, Byron Buxton (+950) makes up 9% of the bets placed and 9% of the betting handle to win the Home Run Derby. 78% of the bets placed and 88% of the betting handle are backing Buxton to record over 18.5 home runs in the opening round, while 14% of the bets placed and 19% of the betting handle are backing the Twins’ standout to hit the longest home run. It is worth noting that 72% of the bets and 67% of the betting handle are backing his longest home run to remain under 460.5 feet. For what it is worth, Buxton has recorded the second-longest home run in Major League Baseball this season, putting a ball 479 feet over the fence.
Brent Rooker (+850) makes up 9% of the bets and 8% of the betting handle to lift the trophy. It is just about an even split for the over/under for Rooker’s home run total of 18.5, but 78% of bets and 83% of the betting handle are backing his longest home run to be under 452.5 feet. Matt Olson (+800) is not far behind him, making up 8% of the bets and 7% of the betting handle on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Braves slugger will have the home crowd behind him, and Truist Park is a friendly park for left-handed hitters. Olson’s over/under for home runs is set at 18.5 with 64% of bets and 59% of the betting handle backing the under. 77% of bets placed and 81% of the betting handle are also backing his longest home run to be under 454.5 feet.
Finally, Jazz Chisholm Jr. (+1100) brings up the rear and is a bit of a surprise selection with just 17 home runs on the year and never recording more than 24 in a season. 8% of bets placed and 5% of the betting handle are backing the Yankees’ standout. 87% of the bets and 93% of the betting handle are backing Chisholm Jr. to record under 17.5 home runs, while 92% of bets and 97% of the betting handle are backing his longest home run to be less than 442.5 feet.
Make sure to check out all the available betting markets on DraftKings Sportsbook for tonight’s Home Run Derby as well as analysis for each category and competition on DK Network!
