Cardinals' Jordan Walker wins Home Run Derby, Red Sox' Willson Contreras embraces villain role in Philadelphia

Jordan Walker spoiled the party in Philadelphia, rallying past hometown favorite Kyle Schwarber to win the 2026 Home Run Derby, and was the first Cardinals player to win the event.

St. Louis had produced only one previous runner-up, when Albert Pujols fell to Garret Anderson in 2003. Fittingly, Pujols was on hand Monday as part of Netflix’s broadcast crew.

Walker, 24 years and 52 days old, became the fifth-youngest Derby champion in history. His victory leaves eight franchises still searching for their first title: the Astros, Braves, Guardians, Padres, Pirates, Rays, Rockies and Royals.

“I can’t even describe how it means to win it,” Walker said. “It was a lot of swings, a lot of pressure, but I think I just had fun no matter what. Every round I was having a good time.”

Walker defeated Schwarber, 12-11, in the final, clinching the title with a 407-foot home run to left field. He also earned the $1 million winner’s prize, which exceeded his 2026 salary of $799,400.

“I knew I was in a good position, but I know anything can happen, too,” Schwarber said. “And Jordan was unbelievable there … so you can’t say enough about how he was able to kind of slow the moment down and lock it in.”

Schwarber Falls Just Short

Schwarber nearly became the fourth player to win the Derby in his home ballpark, joining Bryce Harper in 2018, Todd Frazier in 2015 and Ryne Sandberg in 1990.

Batting first in the final, Schwarber hit 11 home runs, a total that initially appeared capable of holding up. Instead, Walker completed a dramatic comeback and quieted the Citizens Bank Park crowd.

Even in defeat, Schwarber added another memorable chapter to his Philadelphia career. He hit 30 home runs across three rounds, averaged 417 feet per blast and topped out at 461 feet.

Had he won, Schwarber would have joined Bobby Abreu in 2005 and Ryan Howard in 2006 as Phillies to capture the Derby championship.

Contreras Embraces the Villain Role

Willson Contreras made sure his first Home Run Derby was memorable.

The Red Sox first baseman leaned into the hostile Philadelphia crowd, repeatedly cupping his hand to his ear during introductions and throughout his semifinal matchup against former Cubs teammate Schwarber, encouraging the fans to boo him even louder.

“They’ve been booing me for 10 years, so I had fun with it,” Contreras said. “I like when I get booed. It inspired me a little bit. But like I said, it was a great experience. I would do it again. I want to.”

Schwarber edged Contreras, 9-8, in the 15-swing semifinal under the Derby’s new untimed format. Contreras entered his final swing needing one home run to tie but lifted a fly ball to shallow center, sending Schwarber to the championship round.

“We’re good friends. I love Schwarber,” Contreras said. “I think he’s one of the best teammates I‘ve ever had, and he did good. But he came out a little bit short, too.”

Red Sox bench coach José Flores pitched to Contreras throughout the event. In fitting fashion, Flores even hit him with a pitch during the semifinal when one of the special magenta-colored baseballs slipped out of his hand, drawing laughs from both men.

Flores, who became Chad Tracy’s interim bench coach after Alex Cora was fired in April, has known Contreras since 2013, when Contreras was a Cubs minor leaguer and Flores served as the organization’s infield coordinator.

Heading into the Derby, Flores said his goal was to throw “cookies” that landed squarely on the barrel of Contreras’ Bowser-themed bat.

Contreras set the pace in the opening round, hitting 13 home runs on 20 swings to tie Walker for the lead. He pulled all 13, including towering drives of 490, 487, 482, 479, 473 and 470 feet.

His longest traveled 490 feet with a 115 mph exit velocity, though he narrowly missed his goal of hitting the left-field scoreboard.

“When I played in Chicago, I hit one 492 [feet],” Contreras said. “But on that one, I was trying to hit the scoreboard, which usually [feels] far away. But in the first round, it worked out.”

Contreras added eight more home runs in the semifinal, finishing with 21 total and 1.76 miles of combined distance.

His Bowser-themed bat was collected by a representative from the National Baseball Hall of Fame following the event.

“Bowser is because when I got traded [to the Red Sox], and started spending time with my teammates, they told me I looked like Bowser,” Contreras said. “I kind of like the Bowser thing. It’s good, it’s something different.”

Contreras said he would gladly participate again. Although he wanted to win, he didn’t mind being eliminated by Schwarber, his teammate on the Cubs’ 2016 World Series championship club.

The veteran first baseman also used the national stage to recognize those affected by the devastating earthquakes in his native Venezuela.

“I love them,” Contreras told the Netflix audience. “They know my heart is with them. I know I’m here physically. I always think of them and I’m trying to represent them the best way I can. It’s really tough what we’ve been through, but you know what, Venezuela is going to be big again. I’m always trying to do my job and play for Venezuela.”

Contreras’ Breakout Season

Contreras is enjoying one of the best offensive seasons of his career at age 34.

He enters the All-Star break with 20 home runs, matching his total from all of last season with the Cardinals. In 86 games, he is batting .284 with a .378 on-base percentage, a .542 slugging percentage and 59 RBI.

Contreras is on pace to set career highs in both home runs and RBIs. His current bests are 24 homers in 2019 and 80 RBIs in 2025.

Initially left off the American League roster, Contreras was added as an injury replacement for Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who had been voted in as the starter. Athletics slugger Nick Kurtz will start at first base, with Contreras available off the bench.

Contreras, Caminero Bring the Power

Contreras and Rays slugger Junior Caminero opened the Derby with an impressive display of raw power.

Both hit 13 home runs in the first round and repeatedly reached the upper deck at Citizens Bank Park.

Contreras became just the third player outside Coors Field to hit six home runs of at least 470 feet in a single Derby round during the Statcast era, trailing only Giancarlo Stanton, who accomplished the feat twice.

His average distance of 449 feet ranked fourth among all Derby rounds outside Coors Field since Statcast tracking began in 2016.

Contreras also joined Stanton, Oneil Cruz, Aaron Judge and Miguel Sanó as the only players to hit a home run of at least 490 feet in a non-Coors Field Derby.

Childhood Dream

Royals slugger Jac Caglianone fulfilled a childhood dream Monday night, competing in the 2026 T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park with his father, Jeff, pitching to him.

Caglianone didn’t advance beyond the first round, but he still delivered one of the most memorable power displays of the night.

The second-year major leaguer launched eight home runs, including a Statcast-projected 477-foot shot into the third deck in right field, an area few hitters have ever reached. It was the second-longest homer by a left-handed hitter during the event, trailing only Bryce Harper’s 482-foot blast. Caglianone also produced the third-longest homer by a lefty, a 475-foot drive to center field.

His father proved to be the perfect choice to throw to him after pitching batting practice to Caglianone throughout his childhood.

The Royals first baseman found his rhythm quickly, hammering a 462-foot line drive off the Toyota sign at the base of the second deck in right field on his second swing.

He then went seven swings without a home run before heating up late in the round.

His biggest swing produced the 477-foot moonshot to straightaway right, drawing one of the loudest reactions of the night from the Philadelphia crowd and providing a glimpse of the elite raw power that has already made Caglianone one of baseball’s most exciting young sluggers.

Rice Falls Short

Cohasset, Massachusetts, native Ben Rice’s Home Run Derby debut ended in the first round, as the Yankees slugger hit seven home runs and fell short of advancing.

Four of Rice’s seven homers traveled at least 420 feet, with his longest measuring a Statcast-projected 443 feet.

Like several American League participants, Rice was greeted with loud boos from the Philadelphia crowd, something he embraced.

“The boos were crazy, especially in the opening ceremony,” Rice said. “It was so cool. I always like to say, ‘They don’t boo nobodies.’ It was just really cool to have them rain down on me, even in the first round, too. That was fun.”

The Yankees have experienced mixed results in recent Derby appearances. Jazz Chisholm Jr. was eliminated in the first round last year, while Judge captured the title in 2017. Overall, four Yankees have won the Home Run Derby: Tino Martinez (1997), Jason Giambi (2002), Robinson Canó (2011) and Judge.

Asked whether he’d like another chance to compete in a future Derby, Rice wasn’t ready to commit, but his first experience left a positive impression.

Walker’s Family Steals the Show

Walker wasn’t the only member of his family who stole the spotlight Monday night.

The broadcast repeatedly cut to his parents, Derek and Katrina, as they cheered him on from the stands in matching Cardinals jerseys. Walker’s No. 18 appeared on the front, while the backs read “Jordan’s Dad” and “Jordan’s Mom.”

Their pride was impossible to miss throughout the competition.

“He was awesome today,” Derek gushed. “I just loved everything about it. Just his attitude, his approach, the smoothness of swing. Looked like his dad. But yeah, he just did a great job. We’re so proud of him.”

Walker’s family became such a hit that his parents later joined the post-Derby set alongside his sister and grandmother, chatting with Barry Bonds, Pujols and Anthony Rizzo after Walker’s championship victory.

New Format Delivers

Players appeared to enjoy the Derby’s new swing-based format, which featured 20 untimed swings in the first round, 15 in the semifinals and 15 in the championship round.

Walker and Schwarber each hit 31 home runs across the three rounds, but Walker won the one that mattered, taking the final 12-11.

Schwarber acknowledged that the energy from the hometown crowd initially caused him to rush.

“From Pitch 1 where I felt like I was just going too hard, trying way too hard because I wanted to go get it and I wanted to do it for them,” Schwarber said. “I was talking to myself, I just have to slow it down here because it’s rowdy and you feed off that.”

Home Run Derby Results

Final

Jordan Walker 12, Kyle Schwarber 11

Semifinals

Jordan Walker 6, Junior Caminero 5

Kyle Schwarber 9, Willson Contreras 8

First Round

Willson Contreras: 13

Jordan Walker: 13

Junior Caminero: 12

Kyle Schwarber: 10

Munetaka Murakami: 9

Jac Caglianone: 8

Bryce Harper: 8

Ben Rice: 7

Derby by the Numbers

The eight participants combined to hit 131 home runs covering 56,343 feet, or approximately 10.7 miles.

Fifteen homers traveled at least 470 feet, while 69 cleared 430 feet. Seven of the eight competitors hit at least one home run of 460 feet or longer.

Schwarber now has 104 career Derby home runs, the fourth-most in the event’s history behind Guerrero Jr. (163), Julio Rodríguez (142) and Pujols (106).

The untimed format allowed the tension to build throughout the evening and culminated with Walker completing a comeback in front of a stunned Philadelphia crowd.

All-Star Game Set for Tuesday

The 2026 MLB All-Star Game will be played Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park, with first pitch scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

This marks the fifth time Philadelphia has hosted the Midsummer Classic, the fourth under the Phillies and the first at Citizens Bank Park, which opened in 2004.

Starting Lineups

American League

1. Mike Trout, CF, Angels
2. Yordan Alvarez, DH, Astros
3. Shea Langeliers, C, Athletics
4. Junior Caminero, 3B, Rays
5. Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Royals
6. Cody Bellinger, RF, Yankees
7. Ben Rice, 1B, Yankees
8. Riley Greene, LF, Tigers
9. Ernie Clement, 2B, Blue Jays

National League

1. Kyle Schwarber, DH, Phillies
2. Juan Soto, LF, Mets
3. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Dodgers
4. CJ Abrams, SS, Nationals
5. Max Muncy, 3B, Dodgers
6. Ozzie Albies, 2B, Braves
7. Brandon Marsh, RF, Phillies
8. Andy Pages, CF, Dodgers
9. Drake Baldwin, C, Braves

Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez will start for the National League, becoming the first Philadelphia pitcher to receive the honor since Roy Halladay in 2011 and the seventh in franchise history.

Dave Roberts of the two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers will manage the National League for the fifth time after previously leading the club in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2025.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider will manage the American League for the first time. Twins manager Derek Shelton will serve as an honorary coach for the AL, while Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol and Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly will serve in that role for the NL.