SOUTH JORDAN, Utah (September 30, 2025) – The Ballpark at America First Square and the Salt Lake Bees hosted the MLB Home Run Derby X Finals Weekend on Friday and Saturday, September 19-20.
Eight teams competed to determine the 2025 HRDX champions. After three rounds of competition and seven head-to-head contests, the Los Angeles Dodgers (Grady Emerson, Adrián González and Mya Perez) were crowned the winners of the 2025 Home Run Derby X.
Over the summer, the MLB held six events across the country to determine four of the eight teams that would qualify for the Home Run Derby X Finals Weekend. The Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays and Washington Nationals all qualified by winning events in different U.S. cities. The New York Yankees, Kansas City Royals and Team Wild Card all competed as wild card teams, and the Salt Lake Bees joined as the home team.
The Home Run Derby X quarterfinals were held on Friday, September 19, and matchups were randomly selected. The Nationals defeated the Royals 81-54, the Bees defeated the Blue Jays 71-67, the Yankees defeated the Cardinals 68-66 and the Dodgers defeated Team Wild Card 68-43.
The semifinals and finals were held on Saturday, September 20. The Yankees narrowly defeated the Nationals 71-69 in the first semifinal, and the Dodgers defeated the Bees 62-53. After a 30-point showing by Emerson and 27-point addition by Perez, the Dodgers sealed a 72-71 championship victory against the Yankees.
Upbeat music played before and during both events to energize the fans and competitors, and two broadcasters talked through every round of competition to give fans more information on each athlete and matchup. Beddy’s Berm was packed with fans scrambling to catch one of the 464 home runs hit throughout the weekend.
Home Run Derby X also hosted a kids clinic on Saturday morning. 150 kids attended and participated in various baseball drills alongside Home Run Derby X athletes. Each kid received a bat, baseball and t-shirt, and the athletes signed autographs.
“It was fun to see the community come together to support these incredible athletes,” said Ty Wardle, general manager of the Salt Lake Bees. “We are proud to have hosted the Home Run Derby X Finals Weekend and look forward to more exciting events in the future at The Ballpark at America First Square.”
About Home Run Derby X
HRDX is a Home Run Derby with defense. A single game takes about 30 minutes. Each player gets one at bat of two minutes thirty seconds. During an at bat, the opposing team is in the outfield to make catches. Teams earn offensive points for home runs and defensive points for catches. At the end of the game, the team with the most points wins.
Bonus points are earned by hitting home runs through a centerfield target. During each at bat, batters can call for one hot streak of five swings where everything counts double, including the opposing team’s catches. In the final minute of an at bat, batters can tag in a teammate.
