ST. PAUL, Minn. — T.J. Hockenson stepped up to the plate — and the mound.

After winning the home run derby, Hockenson handled pitching duties for Team Offense and clubbed a critical 3-run homer in the UNRL Celebrity Softball Game hosted by C.J. Ham last week at CHS Field.

Hockenson mashed five home runs during the first round of the derby that was abbreviated a little by a rain delay. He then dethroned defending derby champion Ryan Wright in the championship to collect some shiny hardware — get that man a "Homer Hockerchief."

"I don't think anybody wanted [to pitch], so I stepped up," said Hockenson, who kept Team Defense (and Special Teams) off the scoreboard for the first three innings and withstood a four-run rally in the top of the sixth by getting a pop out with the bases loaded to preserve a 10-7 victory for Team Offense.

In addition to getting a "pitcher's best friend" in the form of a nifty double play turned by Sam Howell, J.J. McCarthy and Brian O'Neill in the top of the first, Hockenson helped his cause with a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth to put Team Offense up 10-3 with an inning to go.

The shot to center plated Ty Chandler and Ham, who each reached on singles, despite gamesmanship by Jonathan Greenard.

The outside linebacker sized up the situation well and demonstrated his anticipation skills. He lined up for the at-bat on the other side of the temporary fence (used instead of the minor league park's dimensions for Saints games). The ball went right to Greenard's glove, but the play still counted as a 3-run dinger.

"We told him that was illegal," Hockenson said with a laugh. "He tried to run it in, but it don't work like that."

Team Defense's rally attempt included an impressive homer by Andrew Van Ginkel, but it wasn't enough.

Receiver Lucky Jackson started the evening's scoring when the lefty homered to center in the bottom of the second. Justin Jefferson immediately followed with a display of opposite field power for a trot that included The Griddy from third base to home plate while flanked by teammates.

Aaron Jones, Sr., singled and scored in the third, and fellow running back Zavier Scott hit a 2-run homer in the fourth.

Eric Wilson and Jalen Redmond scored the first two runs for Team Defense in the fourth inning. Defensive lineman Elijah Williams, who signed with Minnesota after participating in rookie minicamp as a rookie tryout player, legged out two singles on the night.

Hockenson applauded the evening's host, saying, "C.J. is the best. He's done it for years now."

Ham hosted in place of his former Vikings teammate Adam Thielen, who is in his third offseason with the Panthers, to raise money for Thielen Foundation and the Ham Family Scholarship Fund. New this year, each of the six team captains were also able to designate $5,000 to a nonprofit of his choice.

"I'm grateful they have allowed me to come out for a second year to host the UNRL Celebrity Softball Game," Ham said. "The Thielen Foundation does such a good job in this community, the Carolina community. Everything they do is just phenomenal, and for me to be able to join that for the things that I'm passionate about now, I'm just humbled and grateful."

Ham and Thielen played each other as Minnesota prep stars before advancing through college football and then becoming NFL teammates. Each has been selected as a Vikings Community Man of the Year (Thielen in 2022 and Ham in 2024) for their commitments to the community.

"Adam was somebody, when I came in, that I looked up to," Ham said. "He's definitely someone that I look to when it comes to giving back to the community."

Thielen was unable to attend the event because of his commitments in Carolina, but his oldest son Asher threw out the first pitch to Thielen's wife Caitlin. Younger son Hudson voiced, "Let's play ball!"

Returning Vikings and veteran and rookie newcomers enjoyed the opportunity to connect with each other.

"I always try to get some of the new guys out here, just so they can see the fans, see the city, and just have a nice welcome to Minnesota," Ham said. "This event does a great job doing that for our team, for our new guys, so they can see what 'SKOL Nation' is really all about."

Added Hockenson: "The culture we built, it just translates to off the field. All the guys love hanging out, and it's a blast. So, huge shoutout to UNRL, all the sponsors here and all the guys being able to come out and do their thing."

Ham said the opportunity to raise money in support of continuing students' education "means the world."

"I am a firm believer that education is one of the most powerful things out there, one of the few things in life that no one can take away from you," he said. "So just to see young people strive for knowledge, strive to educate themselves, better themselves, it encourages me, because our youth is our future, and I know the future is in good hands with people like Amaia and Rachel, who have received our scholarship."

View the 2025 Vikings Schedule.

Check out the 2025 International games.

View more future opponents for the Vikings.

Buy single game tickets.

Download the official Vikings App.