Eric Sim, "King of Juco," Declares for 2025 Home Run Derby

ATLANTA - In a shocking but undeniably entertaining twist to this year’s Home Run Derby lineup, Eric Sim — the internet’s favorite ex-catcher, weight room warlord, and self-anointed “King of Juco” — has officially announced he will be competing in the 2025 MLB Home Run Derby at Truist Park in Atlanta. Sim broke the news this morning in an Instagram post featuring a video of himself shirtless, swinging a sledgehammer in slow motion with the caption: “It’s time to school these lightweight jabronis.”

Those “jabronis” he’s referring to? None other than his fellow Derby competitors: Luis Arraez, Nico Hoerner, Chandler Simpson, Nick Allen, and Xavier Edwards — a group not exactly known for moonshots but rather for contact hitting, hustle, and in some cases, barely hitting any home runs at all.

Sim’s entry instantly injects a dose of viral chaos into an already unconventional Derby field. But fans are right to be skeptical: Sim's last public Derby outing came at the Going Yard Home Run Derby in Houston last October, where he came out swinging hot in the first round… and promptly flamed out in round two, red-faced and gassed. His lack of pacing led to a quick elimination, followed by a lengthy Instagram rant about "not being built for cardio."

But the King of Juco says he’s learned from his mistakes. According to sources close to Sim (mostly his own Instagram Stories), he’s been training harder than ever. His prep includes two-a-day lifting sessions, a strict diet of protein shakes, beef liver, and rage, and launching balls off a tee into the Pacific Ocean. He’s also been practicing Derby pacing by swinging at pitching machine fastballs set to 88 MPH for 3-minute intervals, followed by screaming obscenities at himself in the mirror.

Still, his opponents aren’t exactly shaking in their turf shoes.

“He calls me a jabroni?” said Luis Arraez. “I’ve hit more balls over the fence in BP this week than he did all last October. Dude better bring more than attitude.”

Xavier Edwards was more direct: “I saw his Houston tape. Looked like he ran a marathon halfway through. He’s gonna need an oxygen tank.”

Even the mild-mannered Nick Allen chimed in: “Respect to his hustle, but I don’t think home runs from Planet Fitness count.”

There are also swirling rumors that Sim is planning to bring Trevor Bauer as his Derby pitcher — a move that would break the internet and probably half the MLB fanbase, though nothing has been confirmed. When asked, Sim only replied, “No comment. Just know whoever throws to me better bring heat.”

Projections for Sim’s Derby performance remain mixed. While his raw power is undeniable, his stamina and consistency are major question marks. Analysts predict he’ll hit 17 total home runs, with a longest blast of 442 feet, and an average distance of 408 feet. Whether that’s enough to win is unclear — but one thing’s for sure: the King of Juco will make this Derby must-watch content.

The 2025 Home Run Derby may not have the league’s biggest sluggers, but thanks to Eric Sim, it might have its biggest personality. And possibly, its biggest implosion.