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.
Illini Isaac is joined by Joey Linn, beat reporter for the LA Clippers, to discuss Keaton Wagler’s NBA Summer League performances so far and future role for the franchise.
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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.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 13: Willson Contreras #40 of the Boston Red Sox competes during the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The main takeaway of this year’s Home Run Derby: The new format gives plaers 20 swings in the first round and 15 thereafter, unless the final swing results in a homer, in which it can continue to infinite swings. Minus a Stanley Kubrick- or David Fincher-type possessing the skills of Kenny Lofton, this is an ideal scenario. You don’t need to take my word for it though. They wanna hit and tonight, the proof was in the pudding. This derby was fun to start to finish. Willson Contreras didn’t win but he was the perfect heel.
The secondary takeaway: MLB spent money on this, at least by their standards. Barry Bonds, Will Ferrell, Michael Buffer, more. They wanted people to watch, and they put on a show.
Round 1: Willson leads off, beats everyone’s booties en route to Round 2
Willson was booed lustily when he was introduced, which is the Philly way of saying “I love you,” so the vibes were good. They also famously love brawlers, and, well, Willson is one. And hoooo boy, did he seem like he was at home. He was the first person to hit, and holy smokes did he deliver, hitting not just 13 homers on 20 swings in, but hitting bombs in between laser shots to the corners. Since it was a new format, he was able to milk the clock very nicely, a very smart move, before his last ball. He took four pitches, building drama, before flying off the wall in deep left center.
It ruled.
So then Jordan Walker of the Cardinals came up, and hit 13. Which still seemed amazing, but was it the players, or the format? The answer: The players! He was on one! Jac Caglianone hit 8 taking pitches from his dad — which, I mean, is a better than winning the thing, it’s the best day of your life, but you ain’t gonna win — and after an incredible middle section he faded out not leastwise because his dad is older than me, who was born during the Carter Administration. If I was pitching he’d have advanced tho. Just saying. I can still throw a meatball if nothing else.
Munetaka Murakami came on and sort of biffed it and hit 9 without his dad pitching. They didn’t say he was, at least. But then Ben Rice came out and had his dad pitch to him, and he hit 7 and sucked for him and ruled for us, because the Yankees are trash. Junior Caminero then came out without his dad and hit 12. Do you see the pattern? Do you see it?
Unfortunately, this event being in Philly, the Phillies were saved until the end. Red Sox legend/MLB home run leader Kyle Schwarber came out and needed 10 to advance. So he hit 10 and had to rely on teammate Bryce Harper not to displace him. And look as a person Harper’s just exhausting but the man can hit a baseball. Just not as good as Red Sox legend Schwarbs, as Harper, laden by FanDuel cash, only merited 8 homers. Onward.
Round 1 notes: Chris Sale’s kids look like Chris Sale
Round 2: Willson, booed the entire time and loving every second, loses in absurdly theatrical match against Red Sox legend Kyle Schwarber
Now it was Junior vs. Walker and Willson vs. Red Sox legend Schwarbs in head-to-head semifinal matchups, which are down to 15 swings. The change in formats caught me by surprise but I get them.
Junior started things off. FYI the distance tiebreaker, which was in place in Round 1, did not apply to Round 2. So we’re in swing-off territory. But Junior only hit 5, so not really an issue. Good for us, at least. Also Willson hadn’t yet started a fight. Alas, the night was still young. As is Walker, who, I mean, looked absolutely sick and hit 6 homers to beat Junior with a handful of swings to spare. As I’m writing this right now he seems the most locked in.
Red Sox legend Schwarbs led off on the other side of the bracket, and he kicked ass, hitting 9 no-doubt dongers. What can we even say? He was here! He was right here! Red Sox legend Schwarbs now and forever. Except right now, against Willson. This is the exception that proves the rule.
But now he came on and was lustily booed until he made an out, at which point the crowd was nuts. Incredible hating. It was glorious, I can’t lie. If he took a pitch, they booed louder. Game recognize game. He was hapless through 7 swings, got hot, got cold, got hot, took it down to the last swing with the crowd in a lather. His pitcher “threw at him,” evoking laughs. Then he popped out and the crowd went wild. It was amazing, and Willson loved every moment of playing the villain. But he had a blast. Onward.
Round 3: Red Sox legend Kyle Schwarber loses in dramatic fashion to non-Red Sox legend Jordan Walker
Time comes for us all, but Kyle Schwarber doesn’t wanna hear it. At 33 years old, he’s as good as ever, probably because he played for us those few months (but also because his archetype lends itself to this sorta thing). That’s just science. He hit 11 homers and finally hit the magenta last ball, which is worth more I think. Walker came out second and just didn’t have it… at first. He was booed as lustily as Willson and fell behind Schwarbs’ pace before a furious comeback, showered by boos, that drew him to within one swing, 11-10. Homer or go home. he hit a homer to make it 11-11. Now it’s a homer and we go home. Guess what he did next? Here’s a hint: this blog is over. And the Home Run Derby is back.
Jul 13, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Kansas City Royals right fielder Jac Caglianone (14) bats during the All Star-Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Jac Caglianone is a gigantic human who can hit baseballs very, very hard and very, very far. But the Home Run Derby is a different beast, and while Cags hit some absolute tanks, he was eliminated in the first round of this year’s contest. Meanwhile, at least one Missouri hitter ended the day as the total victor: Jordan Walker, the St. Louis Cardinals’ budding 24-year-old star, defeated hometown hero Kyle Schwarber in one of the wildest runs in recent Derby history.
That matters, because this year’s Derby was a bit like the contests of old: no clock. No golden ball. But the currency spent here was not outs, but swings: each hitter got 20 swings, and if you got a home run on the final swing, you kept going until you made an out.
Wilson Contreras and Jordan Walker set the stage with some very impressive home runs, notching 12 and 13, respectively. With his dad, Jeff, pitching to him, Cags stepped up to the plate and immediately looked a little nervous, making an out at one point with seven consecutive swings. But he eventually found a groove, unleashing this ridiculous shot to the upper deck:
Cags also unleashed a home run to straightaway center field that went over the batting eye ivy. He ended up with eight home runs. It was a respectable figure and similar to a lot of other hitters in the first round: Muneteka Murakami ended up with only nine home runs after his first round, and two batters later Ben Rice only hit seven. Kyle Schwarber had 10 afterwards. And Bryce Harper himself only got eight home runs. But rules are rules, and Cags didn’t hit as many as his peers, so he fell off.
The format itself—at least to me—was a nice shift away from the frenetic energy of the timed event. Big home runs were given their time to breathe, and there was a little more drama as a result. But Netflix was equally unhurried; Cags was only the third hitter, and it didn’t happen until 45 minutes after the broadcast began.
The Philadelphia crowd helped. They were, at you might expect, feisty. With not one but two Phillies participating, they gleefully sent boos towards the non-Philly hitters. At at one point during Walker’s first go-round, they even booed one of the outfield kids for failing to snag a fly ball.
As mentioned before, the finals shook out to Schwarber, the Philly, against Walker, the Cardinal. The fans were totally into it, rooting for their guy. Schwarber went first, crushing 11 home runs and setting a difficult bar for Walker to hit. Walker, like many of the other hitters after the first round, looked a little gassed. But down to his last swing, he kept hitting dinger after dinger with no margin for error…and walking of Schwarber in an incredible performance.
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
The St. Louis Cardinals haven’t had a competitor in the MLB Home Run Derby since Albert Pujols put on a show during his final season in 2022. Jordan Walker’s breakout year has given him the opportunity to represent St. Louis this year, but he was up against formidable competition. Little did we know that Jordan would rise to the occasion in an incredible way to give St. Louis Cardinals fans a night they will never ever forget. Here’s how it happened.
Each player had 20 swings in the first round with the top 4 moving on to the semi-finals. Here’s how each player did to kick off the competition.
Home Run Derby First Round – 20 swings
Former St. Louis Cardinal and current Boston Red Sox Willson Contreras was the first up in the Home Run Derby. He had an impressive first round hammering 13 home runs with the longest being a monstrous 490 feet.
Jordan Walker of the St. Louis Cardinals was next up and he homered on his first swing and went on to crush 12 more out of his next 20 swings to tie Willson Contreras with 13 first-round home runs. His average exit velocity was a vicious 107 mph and his longest bomb traveled 470 feet.
Jac Caglianone was next up representing the cross-state Kansas City Royals who we’ve completely forgiven for the 1985 I-70 series. Well, we’ve forgiven most of it. He launched some rockets into the upper deck in right field, but ended the first round with 8 home runs.
Munetaka Murakami of the surprising Chicago White Sox was the 4th competitor to step into the box. He jumped out to a fast start, but seemed to tire and ended up with a respectable total of 9 home runs.
Ben Rice from the New York Yankees was Home Run Derby combatant #5 and he got off to a slow start not hitting a homer until his 5th swing. He got into a nice rhythm during the middle of his round, but ended his effort with 7 home runs leaving him with the first guaranteed elimination in round 1.
Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays entered the Home Run Derby arena and crushed 12 home runs with his final swing barely on the wrong side of the foul pole (for him).
The Philadelphia Phillies portion of the Home Run Derby began with Kyle Schwarber entering the batter’s box. He ended up with an underwhelming (by his high standards) 10 home runs in the first round which put him on the bubble for making the semi-finals or not depending on teammate Bryce Harper’s performance.
What did Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies do with his Home Run Derby first round in front of the home crowd? Incredibly, he did not rise to the occasion and only hit 8 home runs which meant Bryce was eliminated and Schwarber moved on to the semis.
Home Run Derby Semi-Finals – 15 swings
Junior Caminero vs Jordan Walker
Caminero got off to a slow start hitting just 2 home runs in his first 7 swings, but picked up the pace near the end finishing his semi-final effort with 5 home runs.
What did the St. Louis Cardinals Jordan Walker do with a shot at the finals? He EASILY smacked 6 home runs with 8 swings left to move onto the Home Run Derby finals.
Kyle Schwarber vs Willson Contreras
Kyle Schwarber was the first up in his semi-final round. He didn’t homer until his 4th swing, but got on a roll after that putting 9 home runs on the board for Contreras to shoot for by the time he was done.
Would it be a former St. Louis Cardinal vs a current St. Louis Cardinal in the finals? That was the opportunity given to Willson Contreras as he stepped in for his semi-final turn. With the Philadelphia crowd cheering every miss, Willson fell just one home run short with 8 dingers before he fouled off his final pitch.
Home Run Derby Finals – 15 swings
Jordan Walker vs Kyle Schwarber
To say that probably no one outside of Cardinals nation had Jordan picked as a Home Run Derby finalist is an understatement. Could he overcome the hometown crowd backing Kyle Schwarber who’s an experienced Home Run Derby competitor who was the runner-up to Bryce Harper back in 2018?
Kyle Schwarber was first up which meant that Jordan would have a number to shoot for. Schwarber got onto one of his infamous homer streaks putting up a staggering 11 home run total on the board including 1 on his final swing. Could Walker somehow overcome a double-digit final round total?
Jordan Walker had such a cool laid back disposition during the entire competition and that didn’t change in the MLB Home Run Derby finals. He seemed unaffected by the national spotlight and earned the chance to try and take down hometown favorite Schwarber for the trophy. He put up an incredible performance hitting multiple home runs on his final swings upsetting Schwarber with an incredible 12 home runs in the finals that included 4 home runs-in-a-row on his final ball. No room for error. No support from the booing crowd. No problem for Jordan Walker. Legend.
Congrats, Jordan Walker. The rest of Major League Baseball now understands you are for real. An incredible upset that will never be forgotten.
A former Philadelphia Flyers defenseman is heading to the Detroit Red Wings, as Ronnie Attard has signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Original Six club.
Attard spent this past season in the AHL with the Colorado Eagles, where he recorded three goals, 17 points, and 38 penalty minutes in 44 games. This was after he had seven goals, 10 assists, 17 points, and 80 penalty minutes in 66 AHL games split between the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and the Bakersfield Condors during the 2024-25 season.
Attard was selected by the Flyers in the third round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, 72nd overall. The 6-foot-3 defenseman was once considered one of the Flyers' most promising prospect blueliners, but was never able to cement himself as a full-time NHL defenseman with the Metropolitan Division club.
In 29 games over three seasons with the Flyers from 2021-22 to 2023-24, Attard posted two goals, four assists, six points, 33 blocks, and 49 hits. His time with the Flyers ended during the 2024-25 season when he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for defenseman Ben Gleason.
Attard has not played at the NHL level since being traded by the Flyers. Perhaps he could change things on that front next season with the Red Wings.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 05: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors chats with Lebron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers at the end of a preseason NBA game at Chase Center on October 05, 2025 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers are one of the handful of teams that are waiting for LeBron James to officially announce where he’s playing basketball next season. For the last two weeks, interested teams have been pitching James’s agent, Rich Paul, on why he should play for them. Now, it seems like that period is over.
NBA insider Chris Haynes reported during the Cavs Summer League game on Monday evening that he spoke with Paul about James’s free agent plans. Paul relayed to him that James has all the information he needs. It’ll now be up to LeBron to make the final call, saying James is now in the “deliberation phase.”
"I've talked to LeBron James' agent Rich Paul and he said [LeBron] has all the information needed. So now it's all up to LeBron James to make a decision."@ChrisBHaynes with an update on LeBron James' free agency. pic.twitter.com/y0N042t5zv
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While we know that James is getting closer to making a decision, which team he will actually sign with is anyone’s guess. Based on reports coming out of Las Vegas during Summer League, nobody definitively knows what LeBron is going to do.
Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints says that the “overarching consensus among rival team personnel at NBA Summer League is that James will sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers.” However, Siegel also noted that the Golden State Warriors are a “stronger consideration” for James after he spent time with Draymond Green this past weekend.
Alex Schiffer of Front Office Sports has backed up that the Warriors are still in the race. The consensus of those polled by Schiffer was that James would pick between either Golden State or Cleveland. “Some executives are skeptical of the growing narrative that a third Cleveland stint is a certainty,” Schiffer wrote.
We’ll see what direction James ends up taking this. He is reportedly looking for “happiness” from his next destination while also having a chance to compete for a championship. The Cavaliers should check both of those boxes quite well. Whether or not LeBron chooses a final chapter in Cleveland remains to be seen.
As part of his offseason roster overhaul, Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman added some scoring punch by signing unrestricted free-agent forward Viktor Arvidsson.
He also bolstered the team's physical presence in the bottom six by acquiring forward Keegan Kolesar and added goaltending depth by signing Daniil Tarasov.
Now, Yzerman has added another new face to the organization with ties to the Mitten State.
Defenseman Ronnie Attard, who spent last season with the American Hockey League's Colorado Eagles while under contract with the Avalanche, has been signed to a one-year, two-way contract.
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 14, 2026
The 6'4", 210 lb. Attard is the latest depth addition to agree to a one-year contract with the Red Wings. Detroit has also added forwards Chase Stillman, Cameron Butler, and Wilmer Skoog this offseason, along with defenseman Jacob Bryson.
A native of White Lake Township, Michigan, Attard played youth hockey with the Honeybaked AAA program before moving on to the USHL's Tri-City Storm.
The Philadelphia Flyers selected Attard in the third round (72nd overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft, though he returned to Michigan to attend Western Michigan University; he spent the next three seasons skating with the Broncos before turning pro.
Attard would make his NHL debut with the Flyers in the 2022-23 season, skating in two games while also appearing in 68 games with the AHL affiliate Leigh Valley Phantoms.
His time with the Flyers organization came to a close in late 2024 when he was dealt to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Ben Gleason. He'd play the remainder of the campaign with the AHL affiliate Bakersfield Condors, scoring seven goals with 10 assists in 59 games.
Last July, he signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Avalanche, and appeared in 44 games with the AHL's Colorado Eagles, scoring three goals with 14 assists. He also added two goals in four Calder Cup Playoff games.
Overall, Attard has skated in 29 career NHL contests, and has two goals with four assists.
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LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Sergio De Larrea #55 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League on July 13, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Summer Mavericks (1-2) got knocked around by Cam Boozer and the Summer Grizzlies (1-1) early on, but turned it around for a 96-88 win in their third NBA Summer League game on Monday at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Arena.
Morez Johnson Jr. missed the game with calf soreness and is likely done after two games, just like Cooper Flagg last year. Ryan Nembhard also missed the game against the Grizzlies with an illness.
Cam Boozer led the Grizzlies with 21 points and eight rebounds, and former Maverick Olivier-Maxence Prosper had 18 for Grizzlies in the loss. Mavericks’ rookie guard Sergio de Larrea came alive late to complete a double-double with 16 points and 12 assists for Dallas in the win.
Here are three key stats from the third of four Summer League games for the Mavs.
4: Alley-oop finishes for Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu
After Boozer bullied the Mavericks starters for six quick points, Mavericks coach Joe Boylan inserted the former Memphis Tiger Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu into the game. Akobundu-Ehiogu immediately ignited a Mavs run by filling running lanes in transition, scoring his first three buckets on the fast break in rapid succession. He also blocked a Cedric Coward driving attempt midway through the first with the game tied at 10-10.
His ability to finish on the run ignited a 20-4 run that lasted most of the rest of the frame, as Dallas finished the first up 24-19. Akobundu-Ehiogu finished the game with 16 points and four rebounds. He will likely get a lot of run in the Mavs’ final Summer League game on Thursday.
He guided home his third alley-oop finish of the first half early in the second quarter, displaying a surprising hit of athleticism to go along with his 6’10” frame. He was born in Nigeria and now plays in Spain’s La Liga for Manresa. His fourth came in the fourth quarter to extend the Dallas lead to 72-77.
5-of-5: First-half 3-point shooting for Jaden Springer and Darin Green Jr.
Darin Green Jr. connected on his first four shots of the game for the Summer Mavs, including his first three from 3-point range. His third came on a drive-and-dish find from Jaden Springer with 3:43 left in the second quarter and put the Mavericks ahead 43-31.
Springer, a Tennessee product and an unrestricted free agent after playing last season for the G-League affiliate of the New Orleans Pelicans, the Birmingham Squadron, hit his first two long balls in the first half as well.
Neither of these guys appears poised to crack the conversation for making the Mavericks’ roster (even on a two-way deal) any time soon, mind you.
The Mavs took a 50-46 lead into the halftime break. Green hit his first 3-ball of the second half as well, after stealing the ball from Boozer near the top of the key, then running straight for the 3-point line on a transition sprint-out. He knows what he’s there to do, and he was feeling it on Monday. His fourth of the game gave the Mavs a 58-55 advantage midway through the third.
Green led the Mavs with 18 points and five boards in the win.
The Mavericks’ second first-round draft pick, Sergio de Larrea, flashed his playmaking ability all night long in his third Summer League game, then he finally found the shooting touch late. He can certainly pass the basketball. See the second embedded tweet above for his connection to Akobundu-Ehiogu on his third alley-oop finish of the first half on Monday.
De Larrea dished 12 assists against the Grizzlies on Monday and turned the ball over just three times. That’s a hell of a number, especially in light of his four turnovers (to just four assists) in Saturday’s game against the Lakers, and especially in light of how inefficient the shooters are around him in this setting.
If you’re a de Larrea truther, this was your game. He was 0-for-3 from 3-point range and just 2-for-13 for Summer League before he nailed his first of the game with 3:05 left to play. He crossed over and stepped back over Boozer on that make, which gave the Mavs an 82-77 lead late. Those are the plays we want to see to go along with his creativity in finding the open man.
He rattled in a second from the left wing with just a minute to play to make it an 87-80 and give him 12 points and 12 assists for the game.
