​This year’s Home Run Derby field is starting to take shape as more stars commit to the event. On Wednesday, two additional American League players announced their participation in the annual All-Star showcase: Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone and Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras. Caglianone hinted on social media that his father would be the one throwing to him at Citizens Bank Park on Monday night, posting, “Excited to be a part of this year’s Home Run Derby! Pops and I can’t wait! See y’all in Philly!” His message suggested a strong family connection to the event and a personal anticipation for the showcase.
Caglianone didn’t light up the league at the start of his first full big-league season, but he found a groove in June, blasting nine homers for the month. Now 23 years old, he has hit 14 home runs this season, which places him last among the four confirmed Derby contestants in total homers but does not diminish his potential impact. His Statcast metrics, though, are notably strong and could make him a popular pick to win. He sits above MLB’s 90th percentile in several key categories: barrel rate (15.4%), average exit velocity (93.7 mph), bat speed (77.2 mph), and hard-hit rate (57.2%). His home runs have traveled an impressive average distance of 418 feet, a mark that ties him for sixth on MLB’s leaderboard, indicating that the power is there even if the total count isn’t the highest.
The invitation to the Derby continues to attract players with intriguing profiles, and fans are invited to share their thoughts and engage with the content alongside staff and other enthusiasts. Contreras has also emerged as a notable power threat, reaching 20 home runs by the season’s midway point, a tally that matches his total from last year. In recent days, he added more distance, homering on both Saturday and Sunday, and he now brings a .287/.381/.545 slash line into his first year with the Red Sox, a season in which the team has struggled to clear the fences consistently. Despite an initial exclusion from the All-Star Game roster, Contreras was later added as a replacement for division rival Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on Tuesday, earning his first Home Run Derby berth in addition to his fourth All-Star nod.
Caglianone and Contreras join Ben Rice and 2025 runner-up Junior Caminero as the four announced Derby contestants. Each of these young AL East stars has reached 26 home runs this season, placing them tied for the second-highest total in the American League, just behind Yordan Álvarez’s 29. The Derby field still has four spots open, with the event’s lineup set to be completed as more players confirm their participation. The Home Run Derby will be streamed exclusively by Netflix on Monday at 8 p.m. ET, continuing to be a focal point for fans and players alike as they anticipate a display of power and competition.
For MLB coverage, fans can expect continued updates as other AL players weigh their options and teams assess the value of a Derby appearance. With Caglianone and Contreras joining the field, the roster is shaping up to feature a blend of raw power, refined technique, and compelling storylines that could influence the Derby’s outcome. As the event approaches, supporters of the Red Sox, Royals, and the broader league will be watching closely to see how these developments unfold and which players will ultimately join or challenge the current contestants. The countdown to the Derby continues, and the stage is set for an entertaining showcase that could produce memorable moments and highlight-reel moments from some of this season’s most intriguing power hitters.