Dump bump: Raleigh's Derby victory lifts ratings

ATLANTA -- Big Dumper helped thrust a large boost to ratings for Monday night's Home Run Derby.

ESPN said Tuesday that viewership for Cal Raleigh's Home Run Derby triumph was up 5% from 2024, according to Nielsen ratings. Raleigh's triumph implicit chap finalist Junior Caminero of Tampa Bay drew an mean assemblage of 5,729,000 viewers, up from 5,451,000 viewers successful 2024 erstwhile Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Teoscar Hernández topped Bobby Witt Jr. successful the finals.

ESPN says the combined assemblage connected ESPN and ESPN2 peaked with 6,307,000 viewers astatine 9:30 p.m. ET. That made the Home Run Derby 1 of the most-watched programs of the day, including each broadcast and cablegram choices.

Raleigh's father, Todd was his idiosyncratic pitcher for the event. The Seattle catcher's 15-year-old brother, Todd Jr., was his catcher. The elder Raleigh is simply a erstwhile manager of Tennessee and Western Carolina.

Raleigh, 28, leads the majors with 38 homers and 82 RBIs and is the American League's starting catcher successful Tuesday night's All-Star Game.

Raleigh became the 2nd Mariners subordinate to instrumentality the title, pursuing three-time victor Ken Griffey Jr., who was connected the field, snapping photos.