Detroit Tigers star Riley Greene received multiple invitations from MLB to participate in the 2025 Home Run Derby at Truist Park. He declined them.
ATLANTA — Detroit Tigers All-Star outfielder Riley Greene received multiple invitations from MLB to participate in the 2025 Home Run Derby on Monday, July 14, at Truist Park, site of the 2025 All-Star Game.
The 24-year-old is tied for eighth among MLB players with 24 home runs, averaging one homer per 16.5 plate appearances. He also ranks third among AL players on the leaderboard, with only Cal Raleigh's 38 homers and Aaron Judge's 35 homers ahead of him.
But Greene declined MLB's invitations.
"I'm just trying to stay healthy," Greene said Tuesday, July 15, less than four hours before the All-Star Game. "It's a lot of swings. Some guys can do it. It's meant for some guys. I don't think it's meant for me right now."
By declining MLB's offers, Greene turned down an opportunity to earn $1 million during the All-Star break.
For the Home Run Derby, all eight participants are guaranteed $150,000, with the winner receiving $1 million and the runner-up receiving $500,000. The player who hits the longest home run adds $100,000 to their payout.
Greene has an $812,400 salary in 2025.
"I haven't hit on the field in two years," said Greene, who only takes batting practice indoors. "I don't think I would have maybe done a good job."
In the 2025 Home Run Derby, Raleigh — the Seattle Mariners' catcher — defeated Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero by three home runs, 18-15, in the final round to become the first catcher to win the Home Run Derby.
Raleigh's 38 homers are second-most in MLB history before the All-Star break, trailing only Barry Bonds' 39 homers in 2001. The first All-Star Game occurred in 1933.
Raleigh is on pace for 64 home runs.
"It's special," Greene said. "He's rewriting history."
The other six participants: Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz, Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton, Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker, Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood, Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson and New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Chisholm hit just three homers in the first round.
He didn't want to mess up his swing.
"It's not that I wasn't trying to hit homers," Chisholm told reporters Monday night. "I was trying to keep my swing and hit homers. Instead of just trying to hit everything in the air, I was trying to keep my line drive swing and hit homers."
Greene joined the other five All-Stars from the Tigers in watching the Home Run Derby with the American League players in front of the dugout.
All six Tigers left the field after the first round.
In 2025, Greene is hitting .284 with 24 home runs, 78 RBIs, 27 walks and 125 strikeouts in 95 games, registering a career-best .879 OPS. He leads MLB in strikeouts, but he ranks third in both homers and RBIs among AL players.
And Greene is determined to keep his swing intact — and his body healthy — as he leads the Tigers into the final 65 games of the regular season.
"My No. 1 goal is to stay healthy for this team and help them win every night," Greene said.
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Tarik Skubal jokes with Brent Rooker
Before the Home Run Derby, Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal — the AL start in the All-Star Game — asked Rooker if he wanted him to be his pitcher for event.
Why would Skubal say that?
It's because Rookie has a .471 batting average with three home runs against Skubal in 18 plate appearances.
"I don't have a secret," Rooker said. "Sometimes, you just get lucky."
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers star Riley Greene declined Home Run Derby invitation
Category: Baseball
