Tennessee man wins $900K in Fanatics' free Home Run Derby game
A 56-year-old man from Tennessee has won $900,000 in a free-to-play game on the Fanatics app. Royden Hudson secured the jackpot by predicting key moments in the Home Run Derby, where the top prize had climbed to $1 million. His victory highlights how Fanatics uses free games to attract new players and boost engagement. Hudson entered the Fanatics 5 Jackpot game, which required no payment to play. His winning predictions included the length of Adolis Garcia's longest home run in the first round—guessing it would be 440 feet or under. He also correctly picked the winners of four first-round derby matchups and the exact number of home runs hit by the victor in those rounds.
The Fanatics app regularly offers free daily games with large cash rewards. These contests serve as a marketing tool, drawing in users who might not otherwise interact with the platform. After Hudson's win, Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin personally phoned him to offer his congratulations. The jackpot's size and the high-profile Home Run Derby event helped push the prize pool to $1 million. While Hudson claimed $900,000, his success is expected to bring even more attention to Fanatics' free-to-play offerings.
Hudson's win comes as Fanatics continues expanding its free gaming options. The company relies on these contests to introduce new players to its platform. With a major jackpot now awarded, the strategy appears to be gaining momentum.
