Matt Olson steps in for Ronald Acuña Jr. in Home Run Derby

The 2025 MLB Home Run Derby is being covered live by The Athletic.

The Atlanta Braves will have Matt Olson replacing Ronald Acuña Jr. in the Home Run Derby at Truist Park on Monday. Olson, an All-Star first baseman, aims to be the first Braves player to win the event and the fourth to win it at home. In 2021, Olson represented the Oakland A’s in the Home Run Derby but was eliminated in the first round by Trey Mancini. After being traded to the Braves, Olson has hit 134 home runs without missing a game. He currently has 17 home runs this season and has been selected as an All-Star for the third time.

Ronald Acuña Jr. made a comeback on May 23 after a year-long recovery from ACL surgery. He has shown his prowess by hitting 11 home runs in 42 games, boasting a .324 average and 1.022 OPS. Despite being sidelined due to back tightness, Acuña is set to start for the National League in the All-Star Game on Tuesday.

Matt Olson will now join the Home Run Derby lineup, which includes Jazz Chisholm Jr. (New York Yankees), Cal Raleigh (Seattle Mariners), James Wood (Washington Nationals), Oneil Cruz (Pittsburgh Pirates), Brent Rooker (Athletics), Junior Caminero (Rays), and Byron Buxton (Minnesota Twins).

Steve Berman, a staff editor and writer at The Athletic, focuses on MLB content and Bay Area sports. He previously founded Bay Area Sports Guy and covered local sports for Bay Area News Group and NBC Sports Bay Area. You can follow Steve on Twitter @BASportsGuy.