If you're searching who won the Home Run Derby 2026, here's your answer: St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker stunned a pro-Kyle Schwarber crowd at Citizens Bank Park to become the 2026 T-Mobile Home Run Derby champion — and the first Cardinal in franchise history to win the event.
In a battle that came down to the final swing, Walker outlasted hometown favorite Kyle Schwarber 12-11, turning a raucous, boo-filled night in Philadelphia into one of the most dramatic finishes in HR Derby history.
Jordan Walker's Improbable Comeback
Walker entered the finals as the clear villain of the night. The Citizens Bank Park crowd — all 43,863 of them — came to cheer for Schwarber, and every miss from Walker drew loud cheers while every home run drew boos. Walker didn't let it rattle him.
Schwarber went first in the finals and lit up the building with 11 home runs on his 15 swings, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Walker looked to be in trouble, sitting on just six home runs with only a handful of swings left. That's when things got wild.
Under this year's new swing-based format, hitters who ended a round on a home run could keep swinging as long as they kept clearing the fence. Walker caught fire, ripping off six consecutive home runs — including four on "final ball" bonus swings — to leap from six to twelve and steal the title away from Schwarber, 12-11.
"I was once told you don't boo nobody," Walker said afterward, still hoarse from the moment, as he hoisted the trophy in enemy territory.
Who Won the Home Run Derby: Full Bracket Results
Here's how the entire 2026 Home Run Derby bracket played out:
First Round
- Willson Contreras (Red Sox): 13 HR
- Jordan Walker (Cardinals): 13 HR
- Jac Caglianone (Royals): 8 HR
- Munetaka Murakami (White Sox): 9 HR
- Ben Rice (Yankees): 7 HR
- Junior Caminero (Rays): 12 HR
- Bryce Harper (Phillies): 8 HR
- Kyle Schwarber (Phillies): 10 HR
Semifinals
- Jordan Walker def. Junior Caminero, 6-5
- Kyle Schwarber def. Willson Contreras, 9-8
Final
- Jordan Walker def. Kyle Schwarber, 12-11
Junior Caminero also grabbed headlines with the longest homer of the night — a 491-foot missile — before falling in the semifinal round.
Kyle Schwarber's Heartbreak
This marks the second time Kyle Schwarber has finished as the Home Run Derby runner-up, having also lost the 2018 final to Bryce Harper in Washington, D.C. Schwarber, playing in front of his home crowd, gave Philadelphia everything he had — 10 homers in the first round, 9 to beat Contreras in the semis, and 11 more in the final — but it wasn't quite enough to hold off Walker's furious rally.
"You tip your hat to him," Schwarber said of Walker's finish. "They were willing against him, whatever they could do to try to will that ball to not go over the fence. And he was able to slow it down and be in the moment."
What Time Was the Home Run Derby and Where to Watch
The 2026 Home Run Derby took place on Monday, July 13, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, airing on ESPN with a simultaneous stream on Netflix as part of MLB's broadcast rights deal. If you're wondering where to watch Home Run Derby 2026 highlights now that it's over, replays and full-round breakdowns are available on ESPN.com, MLB.com, and Netflix's sports hub. The MLB All-Star Game followed the next night, Tuesday, at 8 p.m. ET.
A New Format, a New Kind of Drama
This year's Derby ditched the clock entirely in favor of a swing-based format: 20 swings in the first round, 15 in the semifinals, with continued "bonus" swings for hitters who ended a round on a home run. It made for a slower burn than derbies past, but the final round between Walker and Schwarber proved the format could still deliver an all-time classic finish.
As the champion, Walker banked $1 million in prize money on top of his $799,400 salary this season — while Schwarber took home $500,000 as runner-up.
FAQ: 2026 Home Run Derby
Who won the Home Run Derby 2026? Jordan Walker of the St. Louis Cardinals won the 2026 Home Run Derby, defeating Kyle Schwarber 12-11 in the final round at Citizens Bank Park.
Who did Jordan Walker beat to win the Home Run Derby? Walker beat Junior Caminero in the semifinals, 6-5, then beat Kyle Schwarber in the final, 12-11.
Is Jordan Walker the first Cardinal to win the Home Run Derby? Yes. Walker is the first player in St. Louis Cardinals history to win the Home Run Derby.
How many home runs did Jordan Walker hit in the final? Walker hit 12 home runs in the final round, including six straight to close out the competition and four on "final ball" bonus swings.
What was Kyle Schwarber's score in the final? Schwarber hit 11 home runs in the final round, finishing as the runner-up.
What time was the 2026 Home Run Derby? The Derby was held Monday, July 13, 2026, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, ahead of the MLB All-Star Game the following night.
Where can I watch the 2026 Home Run Derby? The event aired live on ESPN and Netflix, and highlights and full replays are available now on ESPN.com, MLB.com, and Netflix.
How much prize money did Jordan Walker win? Walker earned $1 million for winning the Derby. Schwarber, as runner-up, took home $500,000.
What format did the 2026 Home Run Derby use? MLB moved away from the clock-based format to a swing-based system: 20 swings in round one, 15 in the semifinals, with continued bonus swings for hitters who ended a round on a home run.
Final Word
Jordan Walker walked into one of the most hostile environments a Home Run Derby has ever seen and walked out with the trophy, the title, and a permanent place in Cardinals history. Whether you tuned in live or you're just catching up now, one thing is clear: the 2026 Home Run Derby will be remembered as one of the best.
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