Walker's Dramatic Derby Win
Cardinals' Jordan Walker Wins 2026 Home Run Derby with Dramatic Comeback Finish
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Key Points
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Walker belted 31 homers on the night and closed with six straight homers on his final six swings to rally past Schwarber and win the Derby.
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Bryce Harper was eliminated in the first round, finishing with eight home runs.
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Walker, 24, a 2020 first-round pick, wore a backward cap reminiscent of Ken Griffey Jr. while enjoying a breakout season with 22 homers.
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Schwarber was aiming to become the third Phillies player to win the Derby, joining Bobby Abreu (2005) and Ryan Howard (2006).
Jordan Walker of the St. Louis Cardinals won the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby in Philadelphia on Monday night, stunning hometown favorite Kyle Schwarber with a dramatic late surge. Walker hit six straight homers on his final six swings to beat Schwarber 12-11 in the final, finishing with 31 home runs on the night, according to Freedom 96.9.
Walker, 24, became the youngest Derby winner and the first Cardinals player ever to claim the title. He did it in front of a hostile Philadelphia crowd that booed him all night long, according to My Northwest Sports.
Walker's Six-Swing Surge Steals the Title
Going into his final swings, Walker trailed Schwarber in the championship round. Then he caught fire. He hit six homers on six straight swings to close out the round with 12 total, edging Schwarber by a single home run. It was one of the most electric finishes in Derby history, per Freedom 96.9.
Walker finished the whole night with 31 homers across all rounds. He wore a backward cap throughout the competition, drawing comparisons to Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. Walker has had a breakout 2026 season, entering the Derby with 22 home runs, according to Yahoo Sports.
Schwarber Leads Early but Falls Just Short
Schwarber was the crowd favorite from the start. The Phillies designated hitter and Middletown High School graduate posted 10 homers in the first round. He then beat Willson Contreras 9-8 in the semifinals to reach the final, per AOL Sports.
Schwarber finished with 30 home runs across three rounds. He was chasing history — a win would have made him the third Phillies player to win the Derby, joining Bobby Abreu in 2005 and Ryan Howard in 2006. Instead, he fell one homer short of the title, per AOL Sports.
Harper Exits Early, Contreras Draws Boos
Phillies star Bryce Harper could not deliver for the home fans. He hit just eight home runs in the first round and was eliminated, per My Northwest Sports. It was a rare early exit for one of baseball's biggest names on his home field.
Willson Contreras had a different problem. The Cardinals catcher reached the semifinals but was booed loudly by the Philadelphia crowd during his run. Contreras pushed Schwarber to the limit before losing 9-8, per Freedom 96.9.
A Historic Night for the Cardinals Franchise
Walker's win is a first for the Cardinals organization. No St. Louis player had ever won the Home Run Derby before Monday night. Walker is a 2020 first-round draft pick who is now one of the game's rising stars, per My Northwest Sports.
The atmosphere at Citizens Bank Park was described as electric all night. Even Schwarber fed off the energy. 'This place is electric,' Schwarber said. 'Follow the energy.' In the end, though, it was Walker who had the last swing — and the title.
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