Ball boy robs Junior Caminero with incredible leaping catch in final round of 2025 Home Run Derby

For years, we have watched the MLB Home Run Derby and seen a sea of kids shagging the balls that don't make it past the outfield fence. 

Have you ever been watching and wondering if any of the kids would try to make a highlight reel catch over the fence and rob a home run? It's happened before. Forty years ago, Ryne Sandberg had a home run robbed in center field in the very first HR Derby, and since then, there has likely been plenty of instruction to those in the outfield not to try to catch any potential home runs. 

Sometimes, though, intrusive thoughts win. 

The 2025 MLB Home Run Derby will definitely be remembered. You had the winner, Cal Raleigh, getting pitched to by his dad while his younger brother was catching. You had Oneil Cruz launching a non-Coors Field record 513-foot home run. And you had a kid robbing a Junior Caminero home run in left field. 

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Here's more on Caminero's getting a home run robbed at the 2025 MLB Home Run Derby. 

MORE 2025 HOME RUN DERBY:

• Baseball fans upset with ESPN's 'dizzying' camera work
• Oneil Cruz ties longest non-Coors Field HR in dazzling first round
• Jazz Chisholm Jr. disappoints with worst round since 2014
• How Cal Raleigh advanced past Brent Rooker by less than an inch
• Full list of past Home Run Derby champions

Ball boy robs Junior Caminero in Home Run Derby

Back in 1985, MLB didn't have the outfield filled with kids shagging balls. Instead, they worked with a local high school and had the players in the outfield playing their positions. Sandberg hit one to dead center, and the ball boy robbed it. There wasn't much fuss about it happening, as Dave Parker would go on to win the event. 

Now, MLB fills the field with youngsters hoping to make a cool catch, but on balls that are hit well short of the wall. There hadn't been an incident for 40 years, but that streak came to an end on Monday night. 

Caminero had made it to the finals against Cal Raleigh. He went second in the round and knew that he had to try to catch up to the catcher's 18 home runs in the round. Caminero's swing right before his timeout will be remembered.

He hit a line drive to the left field fence, and you can watch as the fielder drifts over. The ball's trajectory makes it look like it is right in line with the top of the fence. It likely would have hit the fence and hopped over, but instead, the kid made the play and robbed Caminero's home run. 

A KID JUST ROBBED JUNIOR CAMINERO's HOME RUN IN THE FINAL ROUND pic.twitter.com/znFWAO9af9

— The Sports Place (@offsportsplace) July 15, 2025

One of the kids in the outfield really robbed Junior Caminero of a home run 😭

They ended up counting it as a homer anwyay pic.twitter.com/nzEu0vs5EO

— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) July 15, 2025

Caminero took his timeout right after that swing. During his break, the other players on the field, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Elly De La Cruz, were advocating for Caminero, making circles with their fingers, trying to signal a home run. It was reviewed and determined that Caminero would be credited with a home run, despite the robbery.

The Rays' third baseman would go on to lose to Raleigh by three home runs, so it didn't end up impacting the ending outside of creating a hilarious and memorable moment.