Kyle Schwarber reached the Home Run Derby final, but Jordan Walker’s late surge spoiled his run at Citizens Bank Park.
Schwarber reached the final in front of a roaring home crowd, but Walker’s late surge edged out the Phillies' slugger. That is not good in any Home Run Derby format, especially this one.
Kyle Schwarber was not done. His next four swings all left the yard, and the No. 1 seed turned a quiet start into a round-saving surge. He hit 10 homers over his final 15 swings, giving him enough to survive the opening round. Bryce Harper hit next.
If he hit 11, he would knock out his Phillies teammate. If they tied, the tiebreaker would come down to longest home run. The attention turned back to Schwarber, whose Derby swing looked a lot like his swing-off performance in last year’s All-Star Game. He entered that first-ever swing-off and drilled three homers on three pitches, helping the National League win and earning All-Star Game MVP honors.
Schwarber faced former Cubs teammate Willson Contreras, a 2016 World Series champion with him, in the semifinal. Contreras had looked dangerous early, owning seven of the 10 longest home runs at one point. Seven of his next eight swings left the yard. His pitcher, Rafael Pena, found the rhythm with him.
Schwarber finished with nine homers on 15 swings, the second-round limit. Every ball that carried toward the seats made Citizens Bank Park tense. Every ball that landed short brought a roar. Phillies fans booed between pitches and cheered misses like outs in October.
With Contreras sitting on eight homers and one swing left, Red Sox bench coach Jose David Flores hit him with a pitch. Walker arrived in the majors back in 2023 as one of baseball’s top prospects, but the last few years had not been a straight line. He struggled at times to stick in St. Louis, bounced between roles and had to hit his way back into the Cardinals’ plans.
Derby stadium host Greg Amsinger kept calling it “easy power,” and Walker kept proving him right. Schwarber did his part in the final. Again, he found a late burst. Again, he kept clearing the wall.
He finished with 11 homers, his best round of the night. Walker received the same treatment Contreras did. Boos between pitches. Cheers for anything that stayed in the yard.
A building roar as the count tightened. He started fast, then slowed. With four swings left, Walker had six homers.
Then he just missed one, driving it off the base of the wall. The magenta ball gave him a path. Hit one out, get another swing. Keep doing it, and the round keeps going.
Schwarber had given the home crowd just about everything it could have asked for. A comeback against Harper. A tense semifinal against Contreras. His best round of the night in the final.
Please follow us on Google to support usPhillies Analysis Phillies News
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Phillies' Kyle Schwarber Suffers Tough Home Run Derby Loss to Jordan WalkerThe Philadelphia Phillies are hosting the All-Star Game festivities, and on Monday night their two stars took the stage for the Home Run Derby. Even though the
Read more »
Kyle Schwarber falls in Home Run Derby heartbreaker, Cardinals’ Jordan Walker wins in bonus timeSchwarber mashed 11 home runs in the final round but fell just short against a clutch Walker.
Read more »
Air Jordan: Cardinals’ Walker beats hometown favorite to win Home Run DerbySt. Louis Cardinals’ Jordan Walker beats Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber in Home Run Derby final
Read more »
Jordan Walker Edges Kyle Schwarber in Thrilling Home Run Derby Final with New FormatMLB's revamped Home Run Derby format took center stage at the 2026 All-Star game in Philadelphia, leading to a dramatic final where St. Louis Cardinals' Jordan Walker hit a walk-off homer to defeat Phillies' Kyle Schwarber 11-10. The new rules emphasized consistency over speed and produced high drama throughout the competition.
Read more »