Jordan Walker Wins First MLB Home Run Derby Title for Cardinals

Summary:

• Jordan Walker won the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby, becoming the first St. Louis Cardinals player to grab the title.
• The 34-year-old defeated Kyle Schwarber 12-11 in the final at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
• Junior Caminero recorded the night’s longest home run at 491 feet.

Jordan Walker grabbed the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby title on Monday night, becoming the first player in the history of the St. Louis Cardinals to ever win the event.

Walker’s feat was possible after he defeated hometown favorite Kyle Schwarber in the final at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park.

Derby Debut at 24

Making his Derby debut, the 24-year-old right fielder did his best to overcome the hostile crowd of more than 43,000 fans who were cheering for the Phillies slugger, sealing the championship with a dramatic late surge.

Jordan Walker had 12 home runs at the end of the final, edging Schwarber’s total of 11. He entered the championship round after defeating Junior Caminero 6-5 in the semifinals, while Schwarber advanced by narrowly beating Willson Contreras 9-8.

The opening round featured several of baseball’s biggest power hitters. Contreras and Walker each led the field with 13 home runs, while Caminero advanced with 12 and Schwarber moved on with 10.

Phillies star Bryce Harper was eliminated in front of the home crowd after hitting eight home runs, while Jac Caglianone, Munetaka Murakami, and Ben Rice also exited in the first round.

Caminero, Longest Home Run of the Evening

Caminero also produced the longest home run of the night, after he launched an impressive towering 491-foot blast before his semifinal elimination.

The 2026 edition also debuted a new Home Run Derby format that rewarded efficiency rather than the total number of swings.

Walker took full advantage of the rules, finishing with six consecutive home runs across the closing stages of the competition and delivering four home runs on his final four swings to clinch the title.

The victory adds another milestone to Walker’s breakout MLB season, with the Cardinals slugger becoming the franchise’s first-ever Home Run Derby champion.