Jordan Walker spoiled the party in Philadelphia, crushing home runs on six consecutive swings in the final round to defeat Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber, silence the booing crowd at Citizens Bank Park, and become the first player in St. Louis Cardinals history to win the Home Run Derby.
How much does the winner of the 2026 Home Run Derby earn?
The victory also came with a massive financial reward. Walker took home the $1 million prize awarded to the champion, while runner-up Kyle Schwarber earned $500,000. The other participants each received $150,000, and an additional $100,000 bonus was available for the longest home run of the night. For young players like Walker, that $1 million payout is worth more than his entire 2026 MLB salary.
Schwarber opened the championship round with 11 home runs in his 15 swings, setting a strong target while the Philadelphia fans erupted with every blast. The same crowd, which had booed nearly every participant except Schwarber and Bryce Harper throughout the night, fell silent as Walker mounted his comeback.
The Cardinals outfielder sealed the title with a towering shot over the left-field wall, prompting thousands of Phillies fans to head for the exits before the celebration even began.
Schwarber had reached the final after advancing from the opening round and defeating Boston’s Willson Contreras in the semifinals. Walker, meanwhile, earned his place in the championship by eliminating Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Despite competing in one of baseball’s most hostile environments, the 24-year-old Walker never looked rattled. Wearing his cap backward in homage to Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., chewing gum throughout his swings, he appeared completely unfazed by the constant boos and the magnitude of the moment.
Walker launched his seventh homer with two swings remaining in regulation and his eighth on the next swing to secure bonus attempts. Needing four consecutive home runs to complete the comeback, the right-handed slugger delivered under pressure. One blast struck the top of the center-field wall 401 feet away before he reached 10 homers, drawing even louder boos from the Philadelphia crowd. Moments later, Walker delivered the decisive swing to complete one of the biggest upsets in Home Run Derby history.
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