San Diego, California - April 09: San Diego Padres President of baseball operations A.J. Preller looks on before the game against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park on Thursday, April 9, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The San Diego Padres limped into the All-Star break, but they did gain some momentum winning the last two games of the series against the Toronto Blue Jays to finish the ceremonial first half of the season at .500. There has been a lot of debate about what the Padres should do at the trade deadline in recent weeks. This debate reached a fever pitch after San Diego went on an eight-game losing streak to end June and start July. The worst part of the streak was that five losses were to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are running away with the NL West, and the other three losses were to the Chicago Cubs, who will likely be fighting for playoff position at the end of the season.
The Padres had a successful start to the season and were 11 games over .500 at one point. They have slowly regressed and slid back in the standings thanks in large part to the inept offense and more recently due to abhorrent pitching. These two things combined do not show much promise for a second half turnaround and they speak more to the fact that there is not much to look forward to. San Diego has needs in the lineup and in the rotation and the minor league system lacks prospect capital to address all the needs.
The hope is that Joe Musgrove or Nick Pivetta, and preferably both, could return to the rotation not long after the break, which would allow Padres general manager and president of baseball operations A.J. Preller to focus on addressing the needs on offense if he chooses to buy at the deadline. If Musgrove and Pivetta can return and be somewhat effective, they could join Michael King and some duo of Randy Vasquez, when he returns from the IL, Walker Buehler, German Marquez, Griffin Canning, Lucas Giolito, when he returns from the IL, JP Sears and/or Matt Waldron to make up a five-man rotation for the second half. Musgrove and Pivetta have both been throwing bullpens but have not started rehab assignments and there is no timeline for their returns.
The Padres offense has been slowly improving with Manny Machado now hitting above .200 and Jake Cronenworth just below. Fernando Tatis Jr. is still lacking in home runs but has a good average and is always a threat at the plate. Jackson Merrill has been streaky both ways but will hopefully figure it out. Xander Bogaerts started well but has faded lately and perhaps a break during the All-Star week will allow him to rest and recover for the second half. Gavin Sheets has seen his average slowly declining, but he continues to get on base and with Luis Campusano back off the IL the offensive production at the catcher position should improve. Miguel Andujar and Ty France have each had ups and downs this season while Samad Taylor provided some youthful energy to an aging lineup before he too landed on the IL.
Perhaps these are the factors the Friar Faithful considered when casting their vote on the Padres Reacts Survey poll this week on Gaslamp Ball. The fans seem willing to admit defeat and accept that this season is a lost season in San Diego. Whether or not Preller, the coaching staff and the players feel the same way remains to be seen but based on the poll results it would appear the fans are willing to focus on the future.
It easy to say the Padres should look to move pieces at the deadline rather than add, but it is harder to admit it is the right move and even harder to make it happen. San Diego will play 16-games before the deadline after the All-Star break and in that time, the Padres could make the decisions in the first week of August fairly easy. Either way, most if not all of us will be watching.
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In this week’s Injury Report, Ronald Acuña Jr. took his next step towards a return as he began a minor league rehab assignment on Monday. Kyle Harrison has downplayed the elbow soreness that landed him on the injured list to end the first half. And A’s slugger Nick Kurtz has been sidelined with a thumb strain. All that and more as we cover all of the latest relevant injury news around baseball.
⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.
Ronald Acuña Jr. (hamstring)
Acuña began a minor league rehab assignment on Monday in the Florida Complex League, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout. He’ll be there this week while all teams are on break to get a few games in before potentially returning when the Braves resume play on Friday at home against the Rangers. At worst, we’re looking at a return by next week. Acuña has been out of action since June 10 with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, the second occurrence of the injury this season after a hamstring strain forced him to miss some time in May. The 28-year-old outfielder has been limited to 53 games this season, hitting .251/.373/.421 with seven homers, 31 runs scored, 22 RBI, and 15 steals.
Harrison told reporters following his last start on July 8 that he had been dealing with some soreness on the outside of his left elbow for a couple of weeks. It went just four innings in that one after lasting just 2 2/3 in his previous start. The next day, Harrison was placed on the 15-day injured list with left forearm tightness. Hopefully, with the extra rest over the All-Star break, he won’t have to miss more than a start or two. Harrison did provide an update over the weekend, stating that he was feeling much better and “not too worried” about the injury. The 24-year-old left-hander has enjoyed a breakout season through the first half, posting a 3.01 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 101 strikeouts over 83 2/3 innings.
Nick Kurtz (thumb)
Kurtz was originally pulled from last Wednesday’s contest against the Tigers with an illness, though there was some speculation after he appeared to jam his hand in the first inning. He returned to the lineup on Thursday, then held out on Friday with a right thumb capsule strain before ultimately landing on the 10-day injured list. The injury will sideline Kurtz for the All-Star game, as he could be facing a multi-week absence. The 23-year-old slugger has followed up an impressive rookie campaign with an excellent first half, slashing .266/.405/.497 with 20 homers, 61 runs scored, 66 RBI, and seven steals across 412 plate appearances.
Zack Gelof (knee)
Gelof has had some pretty bad luck to end the first half. He spent a minimum stint on the injured list with a lacerated hand after getting his hand stepped on in late June, then returned only to injure his knee crashing into the outfield wall. He was pulled from Thursday’s contest after the play and placed on the 10-day injured list with just a knee laceration. The hope is that this is another minimum stay and he could return when he’s first eligible on Monday.
Konnor Griffin (finger)
Griffin was diagnosed with a torn tendon in his left ring finger last week, an injury he sustained while making a diving catch against the Nationals on July 5. The injury will keep him out for an extended time, as he’ll need a split for six weeks, then another 2-4 weeks before he can return. A two-month absence at this juncture significantly limits the impact he can make for fantasy purposes. The 20-year-old shortstop has had a promising start to his career, hitting .276/.332/.404 with five homers and 20 steals over 59 games. In a procedural move, the team shifted him to the 60-day injured list and acquired Jacob Gonzalez in a trade with the White Sox to shore up their infield depth.
Blaze Alexander (hand)
Alexander is set to miss some extended time after suffering a non-displaced fracture in his left hand following a hit by a pitch on Sunday against the Royals. A typical timeline for a hand fracture would put him back around late August. The 27-year-old infielder has been excellent for the Orioles this season, hitting .312/.368/.439 with four homers and nine steals across 246 plate appearances. Baltimore will likely recall an infielder from Triple-A Norfolk, but Alexander’s absence could open more playing time for Coby Mayo and Jeremiah Jackson.
Nick Lodolo (blister)
The blister issues that delayed Lodolo's season debut until May have resurfaced. He was removed in the sixth inning against the Cubs on Saturday with a blister on his left index finger. Lodolo’s blister problems date back to 2023. The team placed him on the 15-day injured list with no timeline and will have to wait until it fully heals before proceeding, hopefully mitigating the risk of setbacks. The injury has to play a factor in his struggles this season, with a 4.60 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts over 62 2/3 innings.
Zac Gallen (elbow)
Gallen was scratched from his scheduled start on Sunday with right elbow inflammation and subsequently placed on the 15-day injured list. There’s no clear timeline for a return. It’s an unfortunate setback for Gallen in what has been a disastrous season. The 30-year-old right-hander has been among the worst qualified starters, with a 6.34 ERA and 1.56 WHIP across 98 innings.
Gleyber Torres (oblique)
Torres began a minor league rehab assignment in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League on Monday, going 1-for-3 with an RBI in his first game action since landing on the 10-day injured list in mid-June with a left oblique strain. He also played five innings in the field. It appears Torres could be activated shortly after the All-Star break to join the Tigers' lineup.
For the 10th straight draft, the San Diego Padres took a prep athlete in the first round of the MLB draft, with six of those previous picks also being pitchers. RHP Coleman Borthwick, 18, out of South Walton High School in Florida, will join LHP Kash Mayfield and LHP Kruz Schoolcraft in the Padres system as teenage gambles in the draft.
After choosing a prep shortstop in the second round, the Padres finished day one with college players, a right-handed pitcher, a catcher, and an outfielder.
In his Zoom conference with the media after the first day of the draft, president of baseball operations A.J. Preller was joined by scouting director Chris Kemp to discuss their thinking with their first five picks and detail how they will be worked into the system.
First round pick Borthwick, in a zoom conference with the media after his selection, detailed his thinking on how he will achieve his goal of being a major league pitcher for the Padres.
“Velocity is great – it’s a great thing to have. But the thing that’s going to get you to the big leagues – is being a competitor, learning to throw strikes while being durable.
“My two-seam is an A-plus. That’s one of my plus-plus pitches that I love to use. It gets early, week contact, nobody can really barrel it, and it’s a pitch I can throw wherever I want. I can pretty much put all my pitches wherever I want, and that’s something that kind of separates me.”
The big right hander has already committed to signing and his first-round slot guarantees him $4,224,700. Don’t be surprised to see him on a roster in the near future.
Day 2 of Padres draft
Day 2 of the draft was covered live on MLB.com as well as the MLB app, with Jonathon Mayo and Jim Callis providing commentary on the draftees with their computers and notes in front of them. This is the first draft with live commentary during the second day, and it allowed some information on players that might not have a lot available on scouting sites.
Over the 16 players selected by the Padres on day 2 of the draft, 14 were college level and two were prep athletes. A somewhat surprising development for a team that normally values young talent with high upside. Signing prep athletes away from their college commitments can be expensive so it appears the Padres focused on college players to save poll money for the more costly signs.
Rounds 5-10
The Padres drafted No. 157 in the 5th round and chose Kansas St. RHP James Guyette, 21, who is unranked by MLB.com.
Callis gave a quick scouting report on the 6-foot-3, 215-pound power arm that highlighted his 92-94 mph sinking fastball that peaks at 97 mph and a low-80s slider. He also has a quality, low-80s changeup that misses barrels. In 79.1 innings, he had 105 strikeouts to 35 walks in 16 games/15 starts.
In the 6th round, pick No. 186, the Padres drafted Arizona St. righty-hitting shortstop Nu’u Contrades. The 23-year-old had a .366/.434/.762 batting line with 21 homers and 61 RBI in his senior year. A compact 5-foot-10 and 180-pound, Contrades is ranked No. 251 by Baseball America and No. 225 by MLB.com.
Always a fly-ball hitter, his power numbers climbed this past season. He is a free-swinger who had 28 strikeouts in 228 plate appearances over the season. A solid runner, Contrades can also play second base and third base. MLB rates him as a better second baseman going forward, but he has versatility.
The Padres drafted infielder Joe Tiroly, 21, out of Virginia St. in the 7th round with pick No. 215. At 6-f00t and 200 pounds, Tiroly played both second and third base with a .319/.408/.576 batting line while hitting 16 homers with 66 RBI.
Not a speedy runner, Tiroly had a foot injury for a good part of the early season and played through using a boot between games. The right-handed hitter could profile better as a third baseman going forward, but would need to maintain a power stroke.
For the 8th round and pick No. 245, the Padres selected LHP Sean Fitzpatrick out of Arizona St. The 23-year-old, 6-foot, 175-pound reliever features a 90-93 mph fastball and has swing-and-miss in his game. He is not ranked in the draft boards, and the Padres draft room provided the evaluation to Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Pick No. 275, in the 9th round, was LHP Benjamin Stubbs out of Troy University. The 22-year-old reliever features a low-90s fastball and showcases swing-and-miss ability per the Padres draft room (Jeff Sanders’ draft report).
The 10th round pick, at No. 305, is catcher Augie Lopez out of USC. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound left-handed hitting sophomore punched a .278/.364/.590 line with 19 homers and 57 RBI.
Rounds 11-20
After the 10th round the slot system is complete. The assigned values for those picks equals the Padres bonus pool. If they don’t use the total allowed for the slot, then that money can be used to pay another player.
Paying above slot can be used to lure a player away from a college commitment. Teams can negotiate contracts with picks in the 11-20 rounds but the top allowed is $150,000. Any overage of that amount is applied to the bonus pool for the team. Any money saved in the first ten rounds can be used to pay a player in the lower rounds.
Round 11, pick No. 335, is first baseman Chris McHugh out of North Carolina St. The right-handed hitting infielder, 6-foot-3 and 215-pound, played first base, DH, and left field for NC St.
Round 12, pick No. 365 is LHP Rob Evans, 22, out of the University of Miami. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound starter pitched in 16 games/15 starts over 87.2 innings with a 10-3 record and 3.29 ERA with 98 strikeouts to 31 walks.
Round 13, pick No. 395 is outfielder Michael Smith Jr., out of Dayton (Ohio). At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds the right-handed hitter totaled a .332/.502/.588 line with 10 homers and 56 RBI with 43 strikeouts and 47 walks. He also stole 38 bases in 53 games and 261 plate appearances.
Round 14, pick No. 425 is RHP Ty Brachill out of High Point University (N.C.). In 15 starts he posted an 11-2 record with a 3.59 ERA, 81 strikeouts, 24 walks in 90.1 innings.
Round 15, pick No. 455 is shortstop Ryan Kucherak out of Northwestern. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound infielder bats right handed and has solid power and plus speed. He hit .295/.390/.521 with 10 homers and 39 RBI with 59 strikeouts and 27 walks in 51 games and 224 plate appearances.
Round 16, pick No. 485 is RHP Albert Roblez out of Oregon State. Only 5-foot-11 and 221 pounds, the reliever has a 2-1 record and 1.50 ERA with 14 saves and 53 strikeouts to 13 walks in 24 games and 30 IP.
Round 17, pick No. 515 is RHP Denton Lord. Another prep pitcher out of the same school as first round pick Coleman Borthwick, the 18-year-old is another towering power pitcher. At 6-foot-8 and 220 pounds, the starter is ranked No. 133 by Baseball America and No. 80 by MLB.com. He has a commitment to Mississippi State and is not considered signable. It is not unusual for a team to take a flyer on a player late in the draft if they think they have a chance to use their bonus money to tempt the player to sign with a team.
Lord features a high-90s fastball with heavy sink as well as a high-70s curve that is working toward a plus pitch. He has a changeup that he hasn’t needed to use much at the high school level.
Round 18, pick No. 575 is LHP Chris Downs out of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. At 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds the Padres show their penchant for drafting a lot of very large pitchers into the organization. He profiles as a back-end reliever but has a 5.71 ERA with two saves in 58.1 IP with 56 strikeouts and 22 walks.
Round 20, pick No. 605 is outfielder Ezekiel Zion out of Campo Verde High School in Arizona. The right handed bat is committed to South Montana CC and is 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds at 18-years-old. He is the second prep player drafted by the Padres on Day 2. Their draft class totaled four prep players and 16 college players.
As is the case in years past, the Padres will be active in signing undrafted free agents and it usually begins the same day as the ending of the draft. There is a UDFA tracker on Baseball America’s website that will list all the players signed that are hoping to begin their professional careers.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 13: Jordan Walker #18 of the St. Louis Cardinals bats during the 2026 T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jordan Walker wore his Cardinals hat backward, chewed a big wad of bubble gum and wore the top of his jersey splayed open as he dug in for his final Home Run Derby swing.
The picture of Cardinals cool, Walker chased down Kyle Schwarber, shut up a rambunctious Philly crowd and introduced himself to a much wider baseball world.
Walker used six swings to swat six homers, besting Schwarber in a dramatic final round that silenced all those boo birds and made him the first St. Louis Cardinal to win the Home Run Derby on Monday night.
Schwarber hit 11 homers during his 15-swing turn in the final round. Philly fans, who jeered everyone but Schwarber and Bryce Harper throughout the night, quietly headed toward the exits when Walker’s winning shot soared over the left field wall.
“I was once told you don’t boo nobodies,” Walker said. “So it feels pretty good.”
The 24-year-old Walker sported the Derby champions' chain, slipped on a leather jacket and still wore his batting gloves as he broke down what it took to take down Schwarber on his home turf.
“My thought was Philly is brutal,” Walker said. "I mean, honestly. But I think it’s pretty special because they love their players and that’s what you want from your home, like, where you play. I mean, I’d never hear people cheer so loud for, like, Schwarber and Harper. And those guys did their thing, for sure.
“But, you know, I can’t hate them, because that’s their guy, so I just got to play the game.”
Walker played a pretty great game in the first half for the Cardinals.
Walker is a first-time All-Star and having a breakout season in St. Louis. He already has a career-high 22 homers this season after struggling with a combined 11 over the previous two years.
Those final six in Philly all flying high with Iron Man on his bat are now stamped on the Derby highlight reel.
His cap backward just like Hall of Famer and Derby great Ken Griffey Jr., Walker celebrated with his family immediately on the field. His father rejoiced in recalling how Walker started hitting long home runs when he was 6 years old.
“When things got tough, they were always there in my corner to talk to them about it,” Walker said of his family. “They kept the energy levels high. They kept the feelings high.”
He fulfilled this childhood dream in striking fashion. Walker hit his seventh homer with two swings remaining and his eighth on the next swing to earn bonus swings. Needing to hit four straight homers to win, the right-handed Jordan knocked one off the top of the center field fence 401 feet away. He reached 10 homers and Philly fans booed with all their might, only for Jordan to finish the sensational surge and celebrate as fireworks shot off around him.
"You can’t say enough about how he was able to kind of slow the moment down, too, and lock it in,” said Schwarber, a Derby runner-up for the second time. “All of our fans were we’re raring and trying to will me to it.”
MLB ditched its timed clock this season and returned to a swing format, with each hitter continuing to swing if he went deep on his final one.
The extra time between swings gave hitters time to track their home runs — and Philly a smidge more time to unleash those throaty boos at Contreras and Walker.
Each player had 20 swings in the first round and the top four advanced. Hitters were seeded for the second round, where No. 1 faces 4 and 2 meets 3.
Each player got 15 swings in the second round, with batters homering on their final swings continuing until not homering.
Boston’s Willson Contreras, Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, New York's Ben Rice and Kansas City's Jac Caglianone, and Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami also participated.
Phillies fans were wildly optimistic that Schwarber and Harper could somehow reach the final and crown the franchise's third Derby champion.
Harper hit only eight in the first round and was the final slugger to try and advance. Schwarber could only watch as Harper failed to join him. Schwarber, then with the Chicago Cubs, made the finals in 2018 at Nationals Park before losing to Harper when he played with the Nationals.
Schwarber and Harper — the first pair of teammates to participate in the Derby since 2018 — received roaring ovations when famed ring announcer Michael Buffer introduced them ahead of the competition.
As for the other six sluggers in the field, all wearing their home jerseys with red, white and blue uniform numbers?
Yeah, they were about booed out of the ballpark, with the loudest jeers saved for Rice. He gamely laughed as he walked out of his Liberty Bell entrance.
Harper — who said earlier Monday this would be his last Derby — waved his arms and exhorted the crowd to get louder as he walked to the home plate platform placed at second base. Harper about broke the ring ropes as he shook them like a pro wrestler, and the Philly crowd went bonkers for the star known as The Showman.
The ball-shagging kids in the outfield were even booed.
The Derby’s public address announcer implored the fans to cheer during some quiet stretches when homers — non-Phillies edition — were hit.
The fans did get a rise when Caglianone smoked one into Ryan Howard territory into the third deck in right field. Contreras socked ’em into the rarified air of the left field upper deck. One homer cleared the last row of stands in that section and bounced off the concourse in front of a bar. His 490-footer was the longest of the first round.
This was the first Home Run Derby and All-Star Game held at Citizens Bank Park since it opened in 2004 and the first derby in Philadelphia since Barry Bonds outslugged Mark McGwire in 1996 to win an afternoon event in front of thousands of empty seats at Veterans Stadium.
This derby was sold out and aired on Netflix for the first time, with the streamer getting into the game this season with a three-event package. Netflix already aired the opening night game, and the third attraction is the Field of Dreams game between the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies on Aug. 13.
PHILADELPHIA — Kyle Schwarber was scripted to be the homecoming king of this Home Run Derby. Instead, he was powerless to stop a little magenta baseball from sailing out of Citizens Bank Park, again and again and again.
And Jordan Walker joined Bryce Harper in the very exclusive club of pulling the rug out from Schwarber in a Home Run Derby.
Walker, the St. Louis Cardinals slugger enjoying a breakthrough season, put on one of the greatest clutch displays ever in this Derby, needing to cash in on his last swing – and then two more after that – to match Schwarber’s 11 home runs in the final.
Instead, Walker hit four in a row to win it, becoming the first Cardinal to win a Home Run Derby after future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols failed in three tries to do so.
Ever hear the sound of 43,000 ticked-off people?
It sounds like nothing at all, and that was perhaps Walker’s greatest accomplishment on this Monday, July 13, hearing the thunderous boos of Citizens Bank Park, turning on an electric smile, relaxing and pasting baseballs easily into the crowd.
The throng grew quieter with every moon shot. And Walker couldn’t get mad at the hate, because he knew it was just love for their guys.
“My first thought was, Philly’s brutal,” says Walker. “I think it’s pretty special because they love all their players. That’s what you want from your home crowd. I’d never heard people cheer so loud for Schwarber and Harper. Those guys did their thing.
“I can’t hate ‘em. I just gotta play the game.”
That he did, with every home run in the finals traveling between 407 and 452 feet. Absolute bombs, more than enough to get the attention of Schwarber, who’s blasted 88 home runs, most in the major leagues, since the start of the 2025 season.
“He was hitting some laser beams. I’m hitting these little fly balls out,” says Schwarber, “and he’s hitting laser beams.”
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Schwarber and Harper, the two Phillies, were practically anointed to win this thing. They were announced last when the streaming service announced the participants. The crowd roared. It was all setting up.
Instead, Harper flamed out in the first round.
In the final, Schwarber put up 11. And then, powerless, as Walker finished his round with four straight homers and five in his final six swings.
“I didn’t ever think I had it won,” says Schwarber, “because I know anything can happen. Especially when it gets down to that last ball, right?
“You get to that last ball. It was three to tie, and he went four to win. You tip your hat to him.”
Not unlike 2018, when Harper, then a Washington National, unleashed a furious rally as the clock counted down to nudge Schwarber by one home run in the finals. So Schwarber was on the wrong side of the equation as both the visiting villain and the hometown hero.
Tough beat.
The scenario salvaged what was a generally underwhelming Home Run Derby. The format change – a limited amount of swings instead of batting against a clock – had its upside, but also drained the tension from most of the competition.
If a guy needs seven homers to tie and has eight swings left, well, we know how that round is gonna end, right?
And the streaming service that took over broadcast rights was only a little better than its opening-night abomination. They trotted out Will Ferrell and Luke Wilson and a Third Guy that perhaps the youth were more familiar with, adding a dash of humor and a sea of schlock to the pregame.
Had Schwarber and Harper both bowed out in the semifinals – and that nearly happened – this would have been a disaster, a finals playing out while most of the 43,000 fans filed out disgruntled.
Instead, Schwarber and Walker added some spice to it, and Walker actually did hit three and then four in a row to win.
“I think I just had fun, no matter what. Every round I said, have a good time,” says Walker. “As a kid growing up, my favorite thing to do is hitting home runs. There’s a competition dedicated to it.
Jordan Walker had a better Monday night than most people have all year. Literally.
The Cardinals outfielder won the 2026 Home Run Derby in Philadelphia, and the winner's check was $1 million. His salary for the whole 2026 season is $799,400.
In just one night, he earned 125% of his salary.
He came from behind to grab the cash too.
Walker trailed in the final and answered with six home runs on his last six swings, closing gap and finishing off Kyle Schwarber 12-11. It came right down to the last outs of the round.
He'd already had to grind his way there. In the semifinals, he edged Junior Caminero, 6-5, before turning around and outlasting the hometown favorite in front of a Philadelphia crowd rooting against him the whole way.
By night's end he had hit 31 homers total across three rounds.
Walker is just 24 and still making close to the league minimum in his fourth major league season. The 2020 first-round draft pick is not eligible for arbitration until next season.
Schwarber, the runner-up and the hometown hero, got $500,000. The six who went out earlier took $150,000 apiece. Junior Caminero banked another $100,000 for the night's longest home run 491 feet.
Where to watch the 2026 MLB All-Star Game
The festivities continue in Philadelphia on Tuesday, July 14 with the 2026 MLB All-Star Game.
The 2026 Midsummer Classic has arrived, and USA TODAY will have reporters on the ground in Philadelphia and at home eager to deliver the goods. From media day and the Home Run Derby, to the red carpet and All-Star Game, we'll have everything covered .
Nevada pitcher Aidan Brainard was selected in the sixth round by the Texas Rangers (Courtesy of Nevada Athletics)
The 2026 MLB Draft has come and gone, and 11 players from the Mountain West got the call throughout the weekend. Nevada had the first player taken off the board, with pitcher Aidan Brainard being the first and only athlete to go in the single-digit rounds. UNLV led the way with three players drafted, GCU with two and four separate programs with one. And surprisingly, six of the nine players were pitchers, representing both starters and closers in a conference that did not have a great year on the mound.
Here is a breakdown of each player drafted, listed by school and what round/pick they were drafted.
GCU: 2
Chase Frey (P, Boston Red Sox, Round 15 Pick 454)
Grand Canyon’s ace on the bump this year, Frey had a pretty good year in Mountain West terms. Boasting a 4.79 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP, the Las Vegas native was one of the best starting pitchers in the conference, earning a second team all-MW honor after the 2026 season. However, Frey was not able to earn many wins over the last year, ending his college career with a 2-7 record, which was not necessarily his fault. Boston’s current situation in the starting rotation is one of the worst in the MLB this year, which is why the team has a 46-48 record. If the trend continues and Frey can develop quickly, Frey could see some time sooner rather than later.
Garrett Ahern (P, New York Yankees, Round 16 Pick 488)
The second and final pitcher from the first Arizona-based school in the Mountain West, Ahem will now be rivals with Frey as he takes his talents to the Yankees. Although he did not see as many starts as his all-Mountain West teammate, Ahem still had a great year in the Mountain West, posting a 5.05 ERA through 46.1 innings and 189 batters faced. The junior was also a victim of a bad win-loss record, going 2-3 with six no decisions. The New York Yankees do have a pretty decent pitching staff overall, with all-star Cam Schlittler being the ace this year and household names like Max Fried and Garrit Cole still on the roster. However, if time does catch up to the veterans and spots open up, Ahem could slot right into the starting rotation once he develops his game further.
Hawaii: 1
Ben Zeigler (1B, Atlanta Braves, Round 10 Pick 292)
Zeigler was the first position player taken from the Mountain West this year, and for good reason. The graduate student from Lahaina, Maui put up great numbers, hitting .294 with 194 at-bats, 57 hits (10 doubles, five home runs, one triple) and 37 RBis. His performance was one of the most consistent on the team throughout the year, earning an all-Big West honorable mention for his efforts. Atlanta is in a very good spot as of now, as they are the leaders of the NL East at 55-40 and are about to get healthy for a mid-season push to keep their winning ways afloat. Players like first baseman Matt Olson are still holding it down, but with the right development throughout the minor leagues, Zeigler can move up to make his own name at the corner.
The first player taken from the board from the new Mountain West after a decent year with some great high points. The all-Mountain West first team senior ended his college career with a 6.53 ERA and a 5-4 record. Across 62 innings pitched, Brainard struck out 68 batters in 253 faced with a .320 opponent batting average. Despite the less than stellar stats, Brainard did have great outings against schools like Ole Miss, Air Force, New Mexico and UNLV, showcasing what he can do when prompted. He will need to work on his consistency, but if Brainard can do so while continuing to grow his strengths, like his strikeout capabilities, he could get a good spot on the Rangers’ rotation down the road.
New Mexico: 1
Cooper Corkrean (P, Kansas City Royals, Round 18 Pick 539)
New Mexico’s sole draft pick comes in the form of their all-Mountain West second team pitcher Cooper Corkrean. In his one year with the Lobos, Corkrean posted a steady 5.49 ERA as one of the Lobos’ best relief pitchers. In 21 appearances, the junior notched 59 strikeouts and 61 hits through 59 innings, with a WHIP of 1.44 in the season. Corkrean had several instances of closing out games that New Mexico were down in, resulting in a 6-2 record on top of four saves. There were moments where Corkrean got shelled, specifically against Northern Colorado and Tarleton State that do need to be ironed out in the big leagues, but once those blips become less and less frequent, Corkrean should be a stud in the bullpen for the Royals.
UNLV: 5
Carson Lane (P, Cleveland Guardians, Round 14 Pick 423)
The first starter to go off the board from UNLV, Lane was definitely a mixed bag this year. Finishing his college career with an 8.23 ERA and 1.99 WHIP, Lane was not the most impressive on the bump this year, especially compared to his all-MW first team season in 2025. He still posted 70 strikeouts on the year, but allowing 57 earned runs and an opponent batting average of .330 muds up the success. And that wasn’t just some inflated stats due to a couple of bad games, as it was nearly an expectation that Lane would give up at least two runs a game in a league where hitting was king. However, the junior did have some great outings, including a five inning stint where he blanked San Diego State. If Lane can get the 4+ earned run appearances down (he had eight this year alone) and put out more small run games, he can be a very useful addition to an up-trending Guardians squad.
Jase Evangelista (P, Boston Red Sox, Round 14 Pick 424)
The literal next pick in the draft was Evangelista, the junior relief pitcher who saw a lot of time as one of the main relief pitchers for UNLV. In 19 appearances and 46.2 innings pitched (third most on the team), Evangelista posted a 6.17 ERA with a 1.48 WHIP. Of the five pitchers that had at least 45 innings on their belt, the junior had the least amount of hits given up (51), second least earned runs (32) and the lowest opponent batting average (.282). Joining up with Frey, Evangelista will have a harder outlook due to the Red Sox bullpen being a bit better than the starting rotation. However, in a similar fashion to Frey, room could open up sooner rather than later if Evangelista plays his cards right.
Ryan Marton (P, Chicago Cubs, Round 17 Pick 517)
Following his teammates three rounds later, Marton was yet another relief pitcher that had a pretty good season all things considered. Although he did not have as much time on the bump, Marton had a very similar season to Evangelista, posting a 6.16 ERA through 19 innings pitched. He was actually better statistically, with a .219 opponent batting average, 16 hits, 13 earned runs and a 1.32 WHIP, though that could be equated to a variety of different factors in a debate. The Toronto, Ontario native didn’t see a lot of innings throughout his appearances, which will be the big question mark as he develops. Regardless of whether he goes the closer or short inning relief route, Marton should have a great time in the minors and majors with the right progression.
Another addition to the Cleveland Guardians potential starters in the future, Dillhoff was the ace of the Hustlin’ Rebels’ pitching staff and represented it decently well. In a similar, chaotic fashion to his partner in crime, Dillhoff posted a 7.53 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP through 69.1 innings. He gave up 58 earned runs (one more than Lane) while striking out 94 batters with double-digit figures in three games. Dillhoff also pitched the only complete game of the season for UNLV against Mountain West baseball newcomer Utah Tech on March 21, only giving up one run. The senior has the potential to make some noise in the minor leagues if he develops correctly, with a similar — if not, better — chance of establishing himself on the Guardians’ pitching staff to Lane.
Jack Salmon (OF, Los Angeles Angels, Round 19 Pick 559)
The final member of UNLV taken in the draft and only positional player, 2026 was a good year for Salmon. In 49 games, the senior hit on a .344 average with a .966 OPS (.481 SLG, .485 OB), notching 53 hits. While there wasn’t a lot of fireworks in his game, only hitting three home runs, Salmon was a scoring beast, getting across home plate 42 times, the most of anyone who played less than 50 games. Salmon’s abilities at the plate and on the base path should prove wonders for the Angles, who are still in desperate times as the last team in the AL West and could use a player like Salmon in the close future.
Utah Tech: 1
Petey Soto Jr. (SS, Houston Astros, Round 18 Pick 541)
A new affiliate member to the Mountain West for the 2027 season, Utah Tech comes in with a bit of brand exposure thanks to Petey Soto Jr. being drafted late into the second day. Competing in the Big Sky while facing off with multiple Mountain West schools last year, Soto Jr. had some great numbers, finishing his college career with a .347 batting average and a .910 OPS in 59 games. In that time, the hometown junior got 77 hits (15 doubles and six home runs) and 48 RBIs, both of which were the best on the team. The Astros do have shortstop Jeremy Pena as their shot caller at the moment, making things a tad bit difficult for Soto Jr. to make an MLB appearance anytime soon. However, given the fact that the Astros are in the midst of a down year without a serious revival, Soto Jr. might have a chance sooner down the line if he continues his growth.
Munetaka Murakami launched nine home runs, but fell just short of advancing, in the first round of the 2026 Home Run Derby. | (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Halfway across the world in Japan, and in half of Chicagoland homes, all eyes were on White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami and his performance in the 2026 Home Run Derby
Mune, fresh off of the injured list and with only five total games under his belt before setting up in the Derby batters’ box, made a valiant run in the first round. Clubbing nine home runs with White Sox coach Luis Sierra throwing to him (Sierra had prepped for the assignment on Saturday by pitching to the White Sox legends in the Sox Park Home Run Derby won by Leury García), Murakami settled into third place, with enough longballs to make the cut. Ben Rice didn’t come close to Mune, but he was still alive, in fourth, even after Junior Caminero crushed 12 into the seats. With two batters remaining, Schwarber then stepped up and deflated the hopes of fans in Japan and Chicago by lofting 10 balls over the wall.
Mune’s longest missile traveled an awe-inspiring 466 feet, with seven shots landing in right field and two in right-center.
Here’s every one of Mune’s moon shots, at least one of which soared over the Citizen’s Bank Ballpark stands:
Walker bests Schwarber in thrilling HR Derby finish While there were criticisms of the broadcast/platform and fewer homers clubbed than in past seasons, Jordan Walker’s “walk-off” home run to upset Kyle Schwarber to win the 2026 Home Run Derby redeemed the evening and then some.
Hometown favorite Schwarber led off the title round with 11 homers, his best effort of the evening (10 in the opening round to edge out Chicago’s Munetaka Murakami, nine in the semis to sneak past Boston’s Willson Contreras). With essentially the whole of the ballpark rooting against him and trailing, 11-8, while down to his last swing, Walker dug deep and clubbed four straight to win it.
For Philadelphia fans who lustily booed all six non-Phillie participants in the Derby, consider it a sign of maturity that they were merely stunned into silence by the blast:
Even though he was eliminated in the first round, Yankees slugger Ben Rice had an unforgettable time in his first experience of the Home Run Derby on Monday night.
With his dad as his pitcher, like they used to do in their backyard when Rice was younger, the lefty swinger totaled seven home runs in his first go-around which wasn’t enough to send him to the semi-finals.
Still, the experience alone was enough for Rice, who was smiling from ear to ear when talking to reporters after the event, to have a great time.
“That was sick,” he said. “Just getting to be out there with my dad, hearing all the boos and everything I was just trying to take it all in, it was so fun.”
With the derby being held at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, the heavily-skewed Phillies crowd let Rice hear it, not only when he was taking his hacks, but during the introductions too -- likely because of his connection to New York and the fact that the Yankees beat the Phillies in the 2009 World Series.
People don’t forget.
“The boos were crazy, especially in the opening ceremony,” Rice said. “It was so cool. I always like the saying ‘they don’t boo nobodies’ so it was really cool to just hear them rain down on me and even in the round too. It was fun.”
Obviously Rice didn’t let the hostile atmosphere take away from the magical experience he got to celebrate with his dad and said his adrenaline was “on another level” during the event. In fact, before taking the field, the 27-year-old thought he felt great and it wasn’t until his first swing that he realized just how fast he was going.
“I’ll tell you what, I didn’t realize how out front my first swings were gonna be,” he said. “I was in the cage and I was like ‘I’m gonna hit 20 home runs, I’m on fire right now’ and then I took my first swing and I was like ‘oh my god I am going so fast right now’ so I just had to figure out a way to slow down, but like I said it was a blast.”
On top of that, Rice is sure his swing must’ve looked different than his usual swing as he was trying to get the ball in the air as opposed to hitting line drives all over the field like in the regular season.
Nevertheless, the first baseman/designated hitter “embraced every bit” of the competition and “had a blast” while leaving things up in the air on whether or not he would do it again in the future.
“We’ll see, we’ll see. We’ll think about it,” Rice said. “If I ever got the chance I’d definitely consider it, but we’ll see.”
But if that was the one and only time for Rice, it’s something he’ll never forget.
“Even just when I stepped foot out there, just looked at my dad and we just smiled at each other and we were like ‘let’s go, let’s take some swings’ so it was super cool,” he said.
Munetaka Murakami launched nine home runs, but fell just short of advancing, in the first round of the 2026 Home Run Derby. | (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
While there were criticisms of the broadcast/platform and fewer homers clubbed than in past seasons, Jordan Walker’s “walk-off” home run to upset Kyle Schwarber to win the 2026 Home Run Derby redeemed the evening and then some.
Hometown favorite Schwarber led off the title round with 11 homers, his best effort of the evening (10 in the opening round to edge out Chicago’s Munetaka Murakami, nine in the semis to sneak past Boston’s Willson Contreras). With essentially the whole of the ballpark rooting against him and trailing, 11-8, while down to his last swing, Walker dug deep and clubbed four straight to win it.
For Philadelphia fans who lustily booed all six non-Phillie participants in the Derby, consider it a sign of maturity that they were merely stunned into silence by the blast:
Halfway across the world and in half of Chicagoland homes, however, all eyes were on White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami.
Mune, fresh off of the injured list and with only five total games under his belt before setting up in the Derby batters’ box, made a valiant run in the first round. Clubbing nine home runs with White Sox coach Luis Sierra throwing to him (Sierra had prepped for the assignment on Saturday by pitching to the White Sox legends in the Sox Park Home Run Derby won by Leury García), Murakami settled into third place, with enough longballs to make the cut. Ben Rice didn’t come close to Mune, but he was still alive, in fourth, even after Junior Caminero crushed 12 into the seats. With two batters remaining, Schwarber then stepped up and deflated the hopes of fans in Japan and Chicago by lofting 10 balls over the wall.
Mune’s longest missile traveled an awe-inspiring 466 feet, with seven shots landing in right field and two in right-center.
Here’s every one of Mune’s moon shots, at least one of which soared over the Citizen’s Bank Ballpark stands:
Jul 13, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) bats in the final round of the All Star-Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Bryce Harper is the greatest showman, as they say. Kyle Schwarber, then, might be the greatest craftsman, with a body of work so explosive that it could only be rivaled by Alfred Nobel. As the festivities got underway, Schwarber and Harper joked that the winner of the duel between the two would have to pay some sort of price to the winner. Perhaps a gold medal, and a certificate from the Schwarbel Committee to recognize outstanding contributions in the field of Dingerology.
Wilson Contreras got the festivities started, with a solid 13 homers on his 20 swings. He took a few pitches before his last swing, wanting to make sure he got the most of the magenta ball (with which you get to swing until you stop hitting dingers). He eventually took a hack at it, but didn’t quite clear the fences; no bonus bombs for him. Jordan Walker was the first to send one into the greenery of the batter’s eye; he started off strong, faded down the stretch, then bounced back to match Contreras’ 13. The triskaidekaphobes were shuddering, but everyone else at the Bank was having a grand old time. Jac Caglianone tried to jac a few taters, but couldn’t quite find his swing, with only two homers in his first 10 swings. He then proceeded to eat his spinach, flinging a few moonshots into the upper decks in right, and one over the batter’s eye and into Ashburn Alley. His total of eight wouldn’t be enough to send him ahead, but he acquitted himself well with some of the finest gopher balls the first round had to offer. Munetaka Murakami, of the Junior Circuit’s Chicago club, surpassed Caglianone by one.
Ben Rice went fifth, and fell short with a total of seven shots. Junior Caminero went after and put up a dozen.
And then it was time for the hometown heroes. Hat backwards, Schwarber strode up to the plate to a standing ovation. His first swing lined the ball to left-center, his second was a shallow fly. His third was a grounder, and his fourth was a foul. His sixth, however, sailed into the familiar territory of the right field seats in CBP. He soon found his groove, with six homers through twelve swings. With four swings left, he had eight homers, and two more needed to beat out Murakami and put himself in line to advance. His next swing tied Murakami. Two swings later, he surpassed him with a shot into the second deck, an area littered with more Schwarbomb landing sites than the moon has craters. He didn’t send the bonus ball into the seats, and so ended his first round with an even ten.
Bryce Harper had the encore, with Schwarber’s ten as his number to beat. The dream of a Harper-Schwarber final came to a premature end; instead, we were treated to the high yet heartbreaking drama of Bryce and Kyle reaching out for the same ring. Harper’s first swing went foul, his second went into the glove of a waiting fielder. His third went out to center, and did not have the distance. But his fourth went into the right field seats. Nine more to go. His seventh swing produced a towering shot that entered Ashburn Alley. Soon after, his bat launched a 482 foot monster. But time (or swings, rather), began to run short. With eight swings left, he needed six more homers. But he had a late surge, with eight homers as he entered the magenta ball swings. Unfortunately, he fouled off the bonus ball, and his night ended. The duel between our beloved duo ended with the Showman bowing out, and Schwarber was left to carry the torch for the hosts.
Schwarber was matched with Contreras in the second semifinal, with Junior Caminero taking on Jordan Walker in the first. Caminero was substantially cooler in the semis, producing five homers on his 15 swings, though one was a lovely shot into the batter’s eye. Walker calmly and smoothly handled his foe, tying him with his seventh swing and eliminating him with the eighth.
Contreras, as the first round’s leader, got the benefit of going second. Schwarber’s first swing produced a ball that just barely missed the mark, and his next two didn’t get the job done either. But his fourth went flying, his fifth said hello to the second deck, and his sixth and seventh did too. His eighth was a misfire that took out a camera, a bit of comic relief sandwiched between rainbow drops. Once in his groove, the well-oiled Schwarb-chine could be delayed but not stopped. He had nine by the time the magenta ball came out, and finished there (nobody had hit a homer with the magenta ball all night).
Contreras was greeted by a host of contrary Philadelphia fans, cheering jubilantly for every ball that found grass instead of seats and booing when he took pitches. They quieted down as he rattled off homers and rattled the foul pole with a dinger, then, after that brief respite for the Bosox’ representative, found their boos again as the battle reached its apex. With two swings remaining, Contreras was one short of Schwarber. He missed on the first, then had the challenge of the magenta ball that had befuddled every previous batter. A wild pitch made him jump out of the way; a bit of levity amidst the tension. He fouled off the magenta ball, and Schwarber was on to the finals. Had Contreras been rattled by the boos of his Derby detractors? Philadelphia lore will surely see it that way.
Schwarber vs. Walker for the title, with Schwarber going first. He took a few pitches to start out the finals, then sent one into the second deck with his first swing. His second swing went over the fence too. His third and fourth homers weren’t no-doubters, but they found their proper home after anxiety-inducing arcs. His fifth shot was a smooth, easy second deck shot, as was his sixth, as were his seventh and his ninth and his tenth. The magenta ball was next, and Schwarber was the first to send it into the seats. His bonus swing sent a liner towards right, where it barely missed. The fan who caught it, arm stretched over the wall, seemed more bereft by the end of Schwarber’s round than enthused by his grab. An exceptional round, and a high bar for Walker to clear.
Walker was greeted by boos. Cheers greeted his misses, his home runs were met with deafening silence. He entered the magenta ball swings with eight homers. He got four more, and even the sourest Philadelphia fan (admittedly, I among them) had to admit it was a mighty show and a well-deserved victory. A classic Derby leading the way into the Midsummer Classic.
In what was a highly entertaining final matchup against a hometown star – Philadelphia Phillies' designated hitter Kyle Schwarber – the St. Louis Cardinals outfielder mashed a flurry of home runs at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, July 13 to overcome Schwarber in the final. Walker hit three do-or-die home runs off the final magenta ball to tie Schwarber's 11 home runs before hitting a fourth to win the event.
And he made some history, becoming the first Cardinals player to win the MLB Home Run Derby.
Schwarber and Phillies teammate Bryce Harper were the headliners in this year’s derby at their home ballpark. Harper, who was a "legacy pick" for the All-Star Game by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, did not make it out of the first round.
Next up in Philadelphia will be the 96th edition of the Major League Baseball Midsummer Classic at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
Where to watch the 2026 MLB All-Star Game
The festivities continue in Philadelphia on Tuesday, July 14 with the 2026 MLB All-Star Game.
The 2026 Midsummer Classic has arrived, and USA TODAY will have reporters on the ground in Philadelphia and at home eager to deliver the goods. From media day and the Home Run Derby to the red carpet and All-Star Game, we'll have everything covered.
Jordan Walker’s breakout season may have hit a new high in the Home Run Derby on Monday.
Despite entering with the third-longest odds to win it, Walker epically took the Derby, beating the Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber 12-11 in the final round at Citizens Bank Ballpark.
Walker became the first Cardinal to win the event while silencing Phillies fans who thought Schwarber would run away with the title.
They were cheering every time a Walker ball did not leave the park.
Jordan Walker #18 of the St. Louis Cardinals competes in the finals of the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Getty Images
They booed everyone except Schwarber and Bryce Harper.
“I was once told you don’t boo nobodies,” Walker said. “So it feels pretty good.”
The Cardinals star needed to hit six home runs in a row, with just one swing left, and did just that.
He hit three home runs in the bonus round to clinch the victory.
Hitters can keep swinging until they make an out on their final attempt.
“He earned it,” Schwarber said.
Walker tied Willson Contreras for the lead with 13 home runs in the first round before hitting six home runs on eight swings in the semifinals, advancing while still leaving seven swings on the board.
The Cardinals star used an Iron Man-themed bat for the Derby, and he’s enjoying a career-best season after struggling to begin his career.
Jordan Walker and Kyle Schwarber embrace during the Home Run Derby on July 13. AP Photo
The 24-year-old is hitting .294 with 22 home runs and 74 RBI, and he has helped guide the Cardinals to a surprising 50-45 start despite low expectations.
Walker’s breakout campaign comes just a season after he hit a woeful .215.
“That was impressive,” Schwarber said. “That was impressive what he did.”
Nobody could touch the magenta ball, until the end of the night.
Through the first two rounds of the Home Run Derby on Netflix on Monday night, not one of the 12 hitters homered on the T-Mobile Magenta Ball, according to the broadcast. The magenta ball is the new bonus ball that hands a player extra swings if he goes deep on the last cut of his round.
That ball was like a Paul Skenes' splinker all night, confounding hitters, until Kyle Schwarber hammered the last one he saw during the finals. It was a 435-foot homer as he was down to his final swing.
Jordan Walker hit the magenta ball out four times to, not only stay alive, but beat Schwarber with 12 home runs. Walker homered on his last six swings.
While it started out as a dud, it set up an exciting walk-off at the Home Run Derby.
The ball is new this year. It's white and magenta with red stiches. It comes into play on the final swing of each round, and a home run on it keeps the hitter alive until he makes an out. All night, it was the prize nobody could catch.
Or maybe they just couldn't see it.
The Netflix analysts kept coming back to one theory: The two different colors made it harder for the players to track. It was darker on one side, meaning it wouldn't show up as well as regular white baseballs against the batter's eye in center field. Hitters use the red stiches against the white leather to track the pitches as they are released from the pitchers.
It's a small detail that probably wasn't as well thought out as it should have been before the derby, but it is definitely something that would bother hitters.
Where to watch the 2026 MLB All-Star Game
The festivities continue in Philadelphia on Tuesday, July 14 with the 2026 MLB All-Star Game.
The 2026 Midsummer Classic has arrived, and USA TODAY will have reporters on the ground in Philadelphia and at home eager to deliver the goods. From media day and the Home Run Derby, to the red carpet and All-Star Game, we'll have everything covered.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 13: Jordan Walker #18 of the St. Louis Cardinals poses for a photo during the 2026 All-Star player photoshoot at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Pressure? What pressure. Jordan Walker silenced the Philadelphia crowd with an outstanding display of power and poise in the final round to overcome Kyle Schwarber and take home the Home Run Derby.
After homering in each of his final six swings, needing every single one of them, Walker became the first St. Louis Cardinals player in the history of one of baseball’s most storied franchises to win this event.
One of the underdogs heading into this event, Willson Contreras started things off with a performance that looked more and more impressive with each hitter that came to the plate in the first round. Not only was Contreras impressive in total volume, finishing with 13, but he also shone in raw power with four of the six largest distances, matched only by Junior Caminero in the top 6. So much was made of the field day left-handed hitters would have with the Derby taking place in Philly that maybe the righty hitters took it a bit personally.
Jordan Walker followed Contreras and also managed to hit 13 homers, which inevitably led us to believe in a high cutoff mark for that first round. Little did we know that no other hitter would crack 13. Unlike Contreras, Walker looked to be saving himself more for the following round, which is backed up by an average exit velocity five miles per hour slower than Contreras despite clearly possessing more raw power. Evidently, that move paid off with Walker eventually taking home the trophy.
It wasn’t quite Jazz Chisholm Jr. in terms of level of disappointment, but Ben Rice was responsible for another underwhelming Derby for a Yankees hitter, finishing with just seven homers and the lowest average exit velocity (103.7 MPH).
Junior Caminero was another standout performer from the right side with 12 bombs—Kyle Schwarber didn’t crack the top 3 with just 10 home runs. With that, the stage was then set for Bryce Harper to compete against his teammate for the final spot as the only lefty to make it to the second round. Harper only got to eight home runs and was bounced out early.
National League over American League in Round 2
Walker missed out on the top seed to Contreras, who had a longer home run in the first round. With that, the matchups were between Walker vs. Caminero and Contreras vs. Schwarber. Caminero was underwhelming with just five home runs in 15 swings and set up a pretty easy second round for Walker, who got to six with still seven swings to spare.
The second semifinal was far closer, and this time around, the batter going first managed to squeeze out a win, as Schwarber’s nine home runs proved enough to beat out Contreras, who stopped at eight.
Dramatic final round
Schwarber managed to hit 11 bombs to open the final, more than any hitter had achieved in the semis with the same 15 swings. With the pressure of the home crowd against Walker to wrap things up, something that might’ve led to a pedestrian start for the Cardinals’ slugger—the win looked like a sure thing for Schwarber.
Up until Walker’s final run, there had been only one home run in the final ball of a round, allowing a hitter to extend his run, and that had come from Schwarber in the final. Walker had three swings left with six home runs and then doubled that total with six straight home runs to win the event.
Down 3 homers in the @TMobile#HRDerby Finals Down to his final swing
Overall, Walker ended the night with 31 home runs on 47 swings, a ridiculous mark for the once-former top prospect currently in the middle of a breakout campaign.
Eric Samulski
James Schiano
