Minnesota Twins star Byron Buxton, a Georgia native, will partake in the 2025 Home Run Derby. Major League Baseball made the announcement on Monday, a week before the Derby is slated to be held at Truist Park, the regular-season home of the Atlanta Braves.

The hometown favorite, Acuña has been one of the best hitters in the majors since returning from his second ACL surgery. This will be his third career Home Run Derby; he lost to Mets first baseman Pete Alonso in both 2019 and 2022. With the event taking place in Atlanta, the timing is right for him to finally take the prize.

Florida Gators alumnus Pete Alonso was selected for the MLB All-Star Game for the fifth time, while he will not participate in the Home Run Derby.

All-Star Game starters were determined by fan vote. Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge and Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani received the most votes in their respective leagues, allowing them to skip the second phase of voting entirely.

For the first time since the turn of the century, MLB's All-Star Game will be held in Atlanta -- the first ever at Truist Park since its opening in 2017. All-Star festivities begin July 11 and culminate in the Midsummer Classic on July 15,