When Matt Olson was recently asked a second time about attending the 2000 Home Run Derby with his parents at Turner Field, Braves teammate Chris Sale quickly turned his head and said, “Wait, you were actually there?

The Atlanta Braves first baseman eventually locked in, but he fell short of advancing past the first round of the Home Run Derby

Home Run Derby takes place Monday, July 14 to kick off the MLB All-Star break. The format for this year's competition remains the same as it did in 2024, where the top four hitters from the opening round will advance to the knockout bracket where there will be head-to-head matchups.

Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. was the first to commit to the event, to be held at his home yard, Truist Park in Atlanta. However, one day after the field was finalized, MLB announced that his teammate Matt Olson would replace him.

Raleigh will become the second-ever player to switch hit in the Derby ( Adley Rutschman in 2023, lost 2nd round), plus no catcher has ever won the derby. This is year 39 of the event, so odds are against Raleigh despite him being the favorite.

The Home Run Derby field is having a last-minute shakeup. On Friday, Major League Baseball announced that Matt Olson will replace his Braves teammate Ronald Acuña Jr. at the 2025 T-Mobile Home Run Derby,

Truist Park has a hometown favorite to cheer on in the Home Run Derby, but it isn't the player originally chosen to participate.