ATLANTA — When Cal Raleigh steps to the plate for his first swing at the Home Run Derby, his past, present and future coalesce. Pitching is his father Todd, the former Western Carolina and Tennessee coach, the man who dragged young Cal along to practices and batboy opportunities and built a workout facility at their North Carolina home.

Oneil Cruz enters the Derby with just 16 home runs on the season, but possesses the best raw power in all of baseball with the fastest bat speed and exit velocities that regular stretch towards 120 mph. He could take over this competition if he finds a groove.

The Home Run Derby might be the biggest adrenaline rush of MLB All-Star weekend every year, but that could especially be true on Monday night in Atlanta's Truist Park with the eight sluggers set to take the field and see how many dingers they can hit.