Jordan Walker of the St. Louis Cardinals captured the 2026 T-Mobile Home Run Derby title with a dramatic comeback victory over hometown favorite Kyle Schwarber at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
Walker trailed 11-8 in the championship round before catching fire, launching home runs on his final swings to complete a thrilling rally and become the first Cardinals player in franchise history to win the Home Run Derby.
The sold-out Philadelphia crowd was firmly behind Schwarber, hoping to see the Phillies slugger win in his home ballpark. Schwarber reached the final after advancing through the new swing-based tournament format but fell just short as Walker’s late power display stole the show.
The Derby featured MLB’s new format, replacing timed rounds with a fixed number of swings. The top four hitters from the opening round advanced to the semifinals before Walker and Schwarber met in the final.
First-Round Results
Jordan Walker – 13 HR
Willson Contreras – 13 HR
Junior Caminero – 12 HR
Kyle Schwarber – 10 HR
Munetaka Murakami – 9 HR (eliminated)
Bryce Harper – 8 HR (eliminated)
Jac Caglianone – 8 HR (eliminated)
Ben Rice – 7 HR (eliminated)
Walker earned the $1 million winner’s prize, while Schwarber received $500,000 as the runner-up. The championship capped a breakout first half of the season for the Cardinals slugger and provided one of the most memorable finishes in Home Run Derby history.
