Home Run Derby X is coming to All-Star Weekend, wrapping up just in time for the start of the 2025 MLB Draft. For the first time in the tournament's four-year history, the 2025 Home Run Derby X season will begin in Atlanta at Georgia Tech's Russ Chandler Stadium. There's another twist this year, too: This event kicks off the Race for Salt Lake, a summer-long battle for a spot in the HRDX tournament finals in Salt Lake City on Sept. 19-20, with the winner in Atlanta automatically booking their spot in the upcoming finals.
To get there, teams will need to best a National East gauntlet, with big league stars like Andruw Jones, Ryan Howard, and Ryan Zimmerman representing their former ballclubs the Braves, Phillies, and Nationals. They'll each be joined by a women's baseball or softball star in the three-on-three co-ed dingerfest. For more on the rules, which feature twists on the classic home run derby with target hits, hot streaks, and outfield defense contributing points, click here.
Admission to this event will be free to the public, and a limited number of general admission tickets will be available on-site at the stadium on the day of the event -- July 13 -- beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET. Tickets are limited to a first-come, first-serve basis, with the gates opening at 1:30 p.m. before the first semi-final matchup begins at 2:45 p.m.
For a breakdown on the lineups that you'll see in Atlanta, read on. Some names of participating athletes are still to come and will be updated here once announced.
Braves Team No. 1
Andruw Jones
Jones is returning to the team where he debuted as a teenage sensation, smashing two home runs in his first two at-bats in the 1996 World Series at the tender age of 19. Jones smashed 434 home runs during his big league career, but 368 of them came in a Braves uniform. Not just known for his bat, the center fielder was a defensive whiz, collecting 10 Gold Glove Awards during his career. This will be Jones' second HRDX event, but he's still looking for a victory.
Alex Hugo
The two-time USA Baseball Sportswoman of the Year and Oakland Athletics roving instructor has become an HRDX staple since competing in her first event in 2022. Hugo, who is known by many on the tour as the most competitive player, has already won a HRDX title when she crushed 27 home runs in Ft. Wayne last season. The softball standout at the University of Georgia has also become known for flipping her hat backwards before stepping into the box for her round. Hugo is one of the best hitters on tour, as she batted .714 with a HR, nine RBIs and 13 runs scored in the 2023 Women’s Baseball World Cup group stage, and it will be a treat for fans to once again see her compete in HRDX this season.
TBD
Braves Team No. 2
Jeff Francoeur
The beloved fan favorite is certainly no stranger to Braves fans: After spending his first six big league seasons in Atlanta, the slugger returned to be an analyst on the team's broadcasts following his retirement. Heralded as a phenom when he first broke into the big leagues as a 21-year-old in 2005, the man known as "Frenchy" went on to play 12 seasons for eight teams. He'll look to show off the bat that hammered 160 home runs and the glove that earned him a Gold Glove Award when he takes the field.
Ashton Lansdell
A HRDX veteran since 2022, Lansdell has seen and done it all on the ballfield -- even taking a star turn for the Savannah Bananas. A trailblazing infielder, Lansdell made the USA Baseball roster at just 17 years old in 2018 and was the first woman to play baseball at the NJCAA level in 2021. After switching her focus to softball, she played at FIU for two seasons before helping Ole Miss advance to the Women's College World Series for the first time in program history. The Marietta, Ga., native hit seven home runs for Ole Miss, while showing off one of the smoothest double plays at the hot corner that you'll ever see.
Ryan Klesko
Klesko was a crucial part of the powerful Braves lineups that dominated the big leagues in the '90s. Klesko topped 20 home runs for the Braves in four seasons -- most notably when he hit .310 with 23 long balls in the team's 1995 World Series run before hitting a career-high 34 for the National League pennant-winning team the next year. Klesko lined up for Atlanta for eight seasons before later playing for the Padres and Giants. He hit 278 big league home runs, with 139 of them coming in a Braves uniform, in his 16-year big league career.
Phillies
Ryan Howard
One of the most fearsome sluggers in Phillies history, Howard won the Rookie of the Year Award, the 2006 MVP Award, and helped lead the Phillies to the 2008 World Series title. Howard smashed 382 home runs across his 13-year big league career -- all in Philadelphia -- leading the league with 58 home runs in 2006 and 48 homers in 2008. He's not a bad actor, either, appearing in fan favorite episodes of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" and "The Office."
Jocelyn Erickson
A softball superstar with a Women's College World Series under her belt, Erickson is bringing her talents to her first HRDX. After winning the 2023 WCWS with Oklahoma, Erickson transferred to Florida to become their starting catcher, going on to win the 2024 NFCA Division I Player of the Year Award after hitting .382 with 15 home runs while also collecting Gold Glove honors. She followed that up with another 15 homers this year.
TBD
Nationals
Ryan Zimmerman
Mr. National himself. The first Draft pick for the Nationals in 2005, Zimmerman played all 16 years of his big league career for the team. Zimmerman hit 284 career home runs, drove in 1,061 runs, was elected to two All-Star Games and won one Gold Glove Award and two Silver Sluggers. His No. 11 was the first retired by the Nationals in 2022.
Zimmerman made his HRDX debut in Albuquerque last year.
Ali Newland
Known in Baton Rouge for her stellar catches in left field, Ali Newland slashed .298/.384/.499 in a Tigers uniform. Newland was selected to the All-SEC First Team twice in her career, while also being named to the SEC All-Defensive team in 2024. Newland will be making her first appearance in HRDX at Athletic Park.
"I love a home run derby," Newland said. "I love it. I know that I'm a little small, and I didn't hit all the home runs in my college career, but I am a three-time LSU softball Home Run Derby champ, so I have some experience here."
Ian Desmond
A two-time All-Star and a three-time Silver Slugger Award winner, Desmond played 11 Major League seasons -- most notably with the Nationals from 2009-15. Though he came up as a shortstop, Desmond eventually saw time at nearly every position save for catcher and third base. He finished his big league career with 181 home runs ... and 181 stolen bases.
Desmond has participated in HRDX competitions each of the last two seasons and holds the record for most points in a single round.