Thursday, October 1, 2026
79 ° Clear
79 ° Clear
PHILADELPHIA-- Balls were flying in Philly on Monday night.
The Home Run Derby is an must watch event every single year. This time, Citizens Bank Park was the host.
In a hitter's friendly park, home runs are common, but these caliber blasts were a sight to behold.
Triple deck shots and homers over 490 feet stole the show in Philadelphia.
With Philadelphia's own Michael Buffer doing the announcements, the contestants in the Home Run Derby walked to the center of the diamond. There they stood in a home plate shaped boxing ring, in honor of a little movie called Rocky.
The first introduction belong to Kyle Schwarber, Major League Baseball's home run leader. Citizens Bank Park was so loud, you could not hear Buffer's iconic voice.
The remaining contestants were met with thunderous boos, a Philly staple.
That lasted of course until the final entrant, the showman, Bryce Harper.
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Harper pumped up the crowd on his way to the ring. He then stood on top of the ropes like a heavyweight champ, throwing his fists in the air.
The party was officially started.
It seems every few years Major League Baseball changes the rules for the Home Run Derby. They did again this year.
In the first round, players got 20 swings to hit as many home runs as they could.
Willson Contreras - 17
Jordan Walker - 13
Junior Caminero - 12
Kyle Schwarber - 10
Munetaka Murakami - 9
Bryce Harper - 8
Jac Caglianone - 8
Ben Rice - 7
After round one was completed, the field was cut in half.
Willson Contreras, Jordan Walker, Junior Caminero and Kyle Schwarber advanced to the second round.
Now down to 15 swings, the competition got tougher. Instead of taking the top two home runs hitters of the group, it into a head to head battle for the last two spots.
Since Contreras had the most home runs, he faced Schwarber, who had the least of the top four. This meant Walker and Caminero were the other matchup.
Jordan Walker - 6
Junior Caminero - 5
Schwarber's turn was next, where he captivated the crowd once more. He blasted nine home runs, setting the stage for Contreras.
After every out, the crowd booed the Red Sox's first baseman. Otherwise, it rained down boos. Contreras played to the crowd, taking as many pitches as he wanted.
Contreras caught fire, hitting homer after homer.
With two swings left, he needed one to tie Kyle.
He couldn't finish the job, and the Phillies' DH moved on.
Kyle Schwarber - 9
Willson Contreras - 8
And then there were two.
The young Jordan Walker of the St. Louis Cardinals, amid a career season. The other, Kyle Schwarber, one of the best power hitters of his generation.
Schwarber went first, setting the mark to win it all. Rallied by the sold out stadium, every swing was big time for Schwarber.
Schwarber hit his most home runs of the night, with 11 in the final round.
Jordan Walker needed 12 to win.
Stealing victory from Schwarber, Walker was down to his final out, but continued to put on a show.
Walker is the first St. Louis Cardinal to ever win the Home Run Derby.
What a night it was from Citizens Bank Park, a Derby that will be remembered for a long, long time.
