Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Tony Blanco Jr. claimed victory in the 2025 Arizona Fall League Home Run Derby, hitting a walk-off homer in the finals against teammate Esmerlyn Valdez. The 6-foot-7 slugger dedicated the win to his late father, Tony Sr., who passed away in April. Blanco's performance featured the hardest-hit ball in Statcast history at 122.9 mph.
In Mesa, Ariz., the 2025 Arizona Fall League Home Run Derby showcased immense power from Pirates prospects Tony Blanco Jr. and Esmerlyn Valdez, who entered as teammates with the Salt River Rafters. The event followed a new format: a 90-second preliminary round with bonus points for homers over 425 feet, followed by team-based quarterfinals and semifinals using seven outs, culminating in individual finals.
Blanco and Valdez dominated early, combining for 18 home runs (26 points) in their initial swings and building an insurmountable lead through subsequent rounds. Fans on the left-field berm retrieved numerous long balls, including one from Blanco at 119.7 mph that landed on a nearby roof, described as the furthest many had ever seen.
In the finals, each got nine swings, alternating three at a time. Valdez hit two homers, and with one swing left, Blanco matched him with an opposite-field walk-off, securing 24 total home runs and 32 points to Valdez's 16 home runs and 23 points. Other participants included Ethan Petry (12 HRs, 15 points), Tommy White (10 HRs, 12 points), Parks Harber (6 HRs, 7 points), Ryan Galanie (3 HRs, 3 points), Luke Adams (5 HRs, 5 points), and Thomas Sosa (3 HRs, 3 points).
An emotional Blanco, the Pirates' No. 30 prospect, spoke via interpreter Erick Salcedo: “My dad never saw me in a Home Run Derby when he was alive. This is for him.” His father, Tony Sr., a former Nationals player in 2005 and AFL participant that year, died in a tragic accident in the Dominican Republic. Valdez, the Pirates' No. 15 prospect and AFL home run leader with eight, added: “I feel proud, for Tony, especially... To win the Home Run Derby for his dad -- he loves his dad.”
Blanco reflected on his journey: “When I was a kid, I was watching [Home Run Derbys] on TV. Now to be able to see [kids] catching the ball for me, it means a lot. It's a special moment.” The duo had anticipated facing off, with Valdez noting: “Before the Fall League, we talked and we wanted to compete against each other in the Home Run Derby.”
Blanco's recent feats include a 464-foot homer and a 120.4 mph double in October, highlighting his power potential. The derby, in its fourth year, joins past highlights like Heston Kjerstad's 2022 shot and Brock Wilken's 2024 run.