The Arizona Fall League has revealed the eight participants and a revamped format for its fourth annual Home Run Derby, set for November 8, 2025, at Sloan Park. Top prospects from across the league's six teams will compete in a new team-based structure leading to a final swing-off. The event highlights emerging power hitters vying for the title previously won by players like Garrett Martin in 2024.
The 2025 Arizona Fall League Home Run Derby introduces a fresh format designed to showcase the league's top slugging prospects. Scheduled for Saturday, November 8, at 6:30 p.m. MST at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona, as part of Fall Stars Weekend, the event features one representative from each of the six AFL teams plus two wild cards, forming four two-player teams.
Participants and Teams
The competitors include:
- Team 1 (Salt River Rafters, Pirates affiliates): Esmerlyn Valdez, an outfielder ranked No. 15 in Pittsburgh's system, who has hit eight home runs in the first two weeks of AFL play after 26 in the regular season; and Tony Blanco Jr., No. 30 prospect, known for the league's longest and hardest-hit homers.
- Team 2: Tommy White, third baseman for Mesa Solar Sox (Athletics No. 7), nicknamed "Tommy Tanks" with 75 college homers at LSU and 15 in his pro debut; paired with Ethan Petry, outfielder for Scottsdale Scorpions (Nationals No. 8), who hit 54 in college despite injury-limited regular season.
- Team 3: Luke Adams, first baseman/third baseman for Surprise Saguaros (Brewers No. 8), with 11 homers in each of his three full pro seasons and a .537 slugging percentage this fall; and Thomas Sosa, outfielder for Peoria Javelinas (Orioles), who hit nine homers across three levels, reaching Double-A at age 20.
- Team 4 (Glendale Desert Dogs): Ryan Galanie, infielder (White Sox), with 28 homers over the past two seasons despite none this fall; and Parks Harber, infielder for Scottsdale (Giants), contributing three homers in 13 games to lead the Scorpions in power stats.
Format Details
The derby begins with a 90-second preliminary round for all eight, where home runs count one point and those over 425 feet count double; points carry over. In the first and second rounds, teams face head-to-head in out-based matchups (seven outs per hitter), alternating turns, with the same scoring. Winners advance, and the final pits the second-round victors in a nine-swing swing-off, alternating every three swings. Tiebreakers use one-swing offs without distance bonuses.
Past champions include Robert Perez Jr. (2022, Mariners), Kalai’i Rosales (2023, Twins), and Garrett Martin (2024, Yankees). Tickets start at $20 via brushfire.com/arizonafallleague.