As the 2025 MLB All-Star Game takes center stage tonight in Atlanta, we rewind to a rain-soaked but unforgettable All-Star memory from the Gulf South.
Before Ronald Acuña Jr. was launching baseballs into the upper deck at Truist Park, he was a breakout prospect dazzling Southern League fans throughout the Gulf South from Jackson, Biloxi to Mobile, and Pensacola. In fact, one of the most memorable early moments of his meteoric rise came during the 2017 Southern League All-Star festivities in Pensacola, Florida — an event that delivered thunder both on and off the field.
(Above: Ronald Acuna from the Mississippi Braves in the Southern League Home Run Derby, held June 19, 2017.)
Scheduled for June 20, 2017, the All-Star Game was set to cap off two days of fanfare at the beautiful Blue Wahoos Stadium, perched along the scenic Pensacola Bay. The stadium, home to the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, was buzzing with excitement. The city had rolled out the red carpet for baseball’s brightest Double-A stars, hosting an All-Star gala at the historic Seville Quarter, player meet-and-greets, autograph sessions, and family activities all around downtown.
But when game day arrived, so did the weather.
As soon as gates opened the remnants of Tropical Storm Cindy crept up over the Pensacola Bay. A steady downpour soon followed. Fans waited patiently in their seats and on the concourse as the grounds crew battled the elements. Hopes lingered, but by 8:30 p.m., after more than an hour of delays, the decision was made to cancel the 2017 Southern League All-Star Game due to unrelenting rain and field conditions. It was a disappointing blow for fans and players alike — especially considering how rare the opportunity was for a city like Pensacola to host such an event.
(Blue Wahoos Stadium with the tarp on the field)
Yet despite the washout, the night before offered enough excitement to be remembered for years to come — and Ronald Acuña Jr. had everything to do with it.
On Monday night, June 19, the ballpark became a stage for future MLB firepower. The 2017 Southern League Home Run Derby turned into a must-see showdown between two of the game’s most electric young talents: Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Mississippi Braves and Gabriel Guerrero of the hometown Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
Acuña, just 19 at the time, had been on a tear through the Braves’ farm system. Guerrero, the nephew of future Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero, was a fan favorite in Pensacola with a powerful swing and charismatic presence.
The two went head-to-head in the finals after outslugging the rest of the field. Round after round, Guerrero and Acuña traded bombs, with the crowd erupting on every swing. The final round ended in a tie, pushing the derby into a dramatic tiebreaker. Ultimately, Guerrero edged out Acuña in overtime, finishing with 29 total home runs and a championship belt that he raised to thunderous cheers from the Pensacola faithful.
While Acuña didn’t win the crown, his performance that night helped solidify his status as a can’t-miss prospect. Less than a year later, he was in the big leagues — and the rest, as they say, is history.
hough the game itself was never played, the 2017 Southern League All-Star festivities left a lasting impression. From Guerrero’s derby fireworks to Acuña’s coming-out party, the event showcased a glimpse of baseball’s future — one that’s now playing out on the biggest stage tonight in Atlanta.
So as Ronald Acuña Jr. takes the field once again as an MLB All-Star, fans in Pensacola can smile knowing they got to witness one of his first true star turns. Even if the rain claimed the game, the memories of that night — and those 29 derby blasts — still echo along the Gulf Coast.
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