Jordan Walker Wins 2026 Home Run Derby

St. Louis Cardinals’ promising star Jordan Walker thrilled fans by triumphing over Kyle Schwarber at the 2026 Home Run Derby. Walker clinched victory with a final home run, beating Schwarber 12-11 in MLB’s latest format during the event.

Witnessed by his parents, Walker’s decisive home run reached the left field seats. His win crowned him the league’s top slugger for the All-Star weekend.

This year, MLB offered participants 20 swings to hit as many home runs as possible. A unique feature allowed players to continue swinging if their final ball was a home run.

Willson Contreras of the Boston Red Sox set a high standard with 13 home runs. His performance mirrored his team’s successful season. Meanwhile, Kansas City Royals’ Jac Caglianone and Chicago White Sox’s Munetaka Murakami fell short with eight and nine homers respectively.

The Tampa Bay Rays’ Junior Caminero achieved 12 home runs, setting up stiff competition. New York Yankees’ Ben Rice managed seven homers, but Schwarber and teammate Bryce Harper sought to advance by beating this figure.

Schwarber led with 10 home runs, but Harper hit only eight, leaving Schwarber to advance to the semifinals. In this round, a player needed 15 swings, and Schwarber excelled with nine home runs to surpass Contreras. Walker, on the other hand, overcame Caminero 6-5 to secure his spot in the finals.

In the thrilling final, Schwarber appeared unstoppable, achieving 11 home runs. This created intense pressure for Walker, who initially hit four homers. As tension peaked, Walker leveraged his remaining swings to tie with Schwarber at 10.

With one last swing, he overcame the challenge by hitting a crucial home run, securing his victory. Walker’s win left the Phillies’ crowd in awe. His current MLB stats include hitting .294 with 22 home runs and 74 RBI for the Cardinals.