Walking Out The Bank A Champ: Jordan Walker wins 2026 MLB Home Run Derby

Image Credit: MLB

PHILADELPHIA, PA — There were approximately 131 home runs hit in Monday’s 2026 MLB Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park, traveling at a cumulative distance of 56,343 feet. 

10.7 miles worth of long balls flying across the City of Brotherly Love. 

The final shot of the night—resulting in Bedlam at The Bank but for all the wrong reasons for hometown fans—was unleashed by Jordan Walker to play spoiler against Kyle Schwarber’s 11 championship round home runs and become this year’s Home Run Derby champion, Derby king, and owner of MLB’s 2026 one-of-a-kind HR Derby chain. 

Oh, and St. Louis’ 24-year-old right-handed slugger, leaving the yard 31 times over all three HR Derby rounds as 48,863 were locked in on every swing, also took home $1,000,000 which is more than Walker’s 2026 season salary with the Cardinals. 

“I can’t even describe how it means to win it,” said Walker, who claimed he was beginning to lose his voice from all the excitement while crediting St. Louis’ bullpen catcher Kleininger Teran for working his magic by pitching to him. 

“It was a lot of swings, a lot of pressure, but I think I just had fun no matter what. Like, every round I was having a good time, you know?

As a kid when I grew up, my favorite thing to do playing baseball was to hit home runs. When a competition is dedicated to doing it, I’m going to have fun doing it.” 

Indeed Walker enjoyed his night, however not so much when factoring a majority of the soldout Philadelphia crowd boo’d and boo’d and boo’d. 

Loud boos too. 

Not just for Walker but for each participant besides Schwarber and Bryce Harper—the hometown Phillies hosts, and pair of superstars putting on a show for all in attendance Monday night, with millions tuned in on Netflix. 

Cooking with the bat like Walker, Schwarber went yard 31 times while Harper, failing to advance out of the opening round, connected for eight shots. 

“My thought (on the continued boos) 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 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 and won, becoming the first-ever Cardinal in franchise history to come out of a Home Run Derby with the crown. 

Attempts before him were made by St. Louis’ Jack Clark (1985), Ray Lankford (1997), Mark McGwire (1998, 1999), Jim Edmonds (2003), Albert Pujols (2003, 2007, 2009, 2022), Matt Holliday (2010, 2011) and Carlos Beltrán (2012). 

“It definitely means a lot. They’ve done it—they’ve exceeded expectations over many years during the season, and honestly I think that’s where it really matters,” he said of the special Derby feat, referring to Cardinal greats like Pujols and McGwire and their successful runs for St. Louis. 

“So I definitely have a lot of learning to do. I have a lot of catching up to do if I want to be called one of the greats like them, but they’re definitely great role models that I look up to and I want to be at the end of my career.”

Results from 2026 MLB Home Run Derby

Opening Round

• Willson Contreras (Red Sox, 13), Jordan Walker (Cardinals, 13), Junior Caminero (Rays, 12), Kyle Schwarber (Phillies, 10), Munetaka Murakami (White Sox, 9), Jac Caglianone (Royals, 8), Bryce Harper (Phillies, 8), Ben Rice (Yankees, 7) 

Second Round

• Contreras (8) vs. Schwarber (9) and Walker (6) vs. Caminero (5)

Championship Round

• Schwarber (11) vs. Walker (12)

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