Phillies add new decorations for All-Star Weekend
The Philadelphia Phillies added new decorations to their ballpark, as they prepare for MLB All-Star Weekend
The 2026 Home Run Derby field is slowly coming into focus.
Six participants – four of whom are from the American League – have already accepted their invitations to the precursor to the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday night, with two more spots up for grabs going into the final few days of the first half of the season.
The Home Run Derby is set for 8 p.m. ET on Monday, July 14 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
This year’s Home Run Derby will feature several format changes, most notably the removal of the timer. Instead, each of the eight participants will be allotted a set number of swings, with every swing counting. Hitters will get 20 swings in the first round and 15 swings in both the semifinals and finals. If a player homers on the final swing of any round, they can continue hitting until a swing does not result in a home run.
So who will be competing under those rules?
USA TODAY Sports is tracking which players will be competing at The Bank in the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby. Follow along for updates:
Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero, who finished as the runner-up in 2025 to the Seattle Mariners‘ Cal Raleigh, was the first player to accept the invitation to participate in the 2026 Home Run Derby. New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice was the second to follow.
Here’s the list of players that have accepted their invitations to compete in the derby, along with their home run total from this season so far:
Note: Home run totals as of games going into Thursday, July 9
- Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays 3B (26 home runs)
- Ben Rice, New York Yankees 1B (26 home runs)
- Jac Caglianone, Kansas City Royals 1B (14 home runs)
- Willson Contreras, Boston Red Sox 1B (20 home runs)
- Jordan Walker, St. Louis Cardinals RF (21 home runs)
- Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies 1B (20 home runs)
This section will be updated as players either accept or decline invitations, along with any news and updates regarding the Home Run Derby
We’ve got the hometown flair. A few days after hinting at wanting to do the Home Run Derby in front of the hometown fans when asked by reporters, Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper has now made it official, as he posted on Instagram that he’s in the field.
It’ll be interesting to see who will be throwing to Harper, as he mentioned his dad, Ron, is likely out of contention and he wasn’t going to do the event unless he found someone that he trusted to throw to him.
“Derby at home? Sure why not?,” Harper wrote on his post.
St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker becomes the first participant from the National League to accept the invite for the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby. Walker, who was named a reserve for the National League All-Star Team, has enjoyed a nice bounce-back season for the Cardinals this season. He is hitting a career-high .294 in 89 games with 21 home runs and 70 RBIs.
“See y’all in Philly! Let’s run it,” Walker wrote on his post.
Is Kyle Schwarber competing in the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby?
It remains to be seen whether the MLB home run leader will be participating in the Home Run Derby at his home ballpark. Schwarber, who hit his 32nd home run on Wednesday against the Cincinnati Reds, had said he’ll compete in the event if his back is OK, as he continues to deal with a sore lower back that kept him out for two games in June.
“I just want to make sure I’m not putting myself in a risky position,” Schwarber said on Monday, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Is Bryce Harper competing in the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby?
Yes. Harper announced on Thursday afternoon that he will compete in the 2026 Home Run Derby.
Speaking candidly with reporters in Kansas City during the weekend, the 2018 Home Run Derby champion said he will do the event if he finds the right person to throw to him, as his dad, Ron, is likely not an option again after not throwing for a while.
“It’s a big thing. You can’t just pick somebody random. Also, with it being the swings and not the timing on the clock, if I don’t get any pitches I can hit, swing-wise I’m in trouble. And I’m not going to do something if I’m going to have a half-mentality toward it because I’m worried about the pitcher,” Harper said, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia.
“If I’m going to do it, I’m going to be full bore and very confident in winning it. I’m not going out there just to have fun. I’m going out there to win it.”
When is the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby?
- Date: Monday, July 13
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Location: Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia)
The 2026 MLB Home Run Derby is set for 8 p.m. ET on Monday, July 13 at Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies and the site of the 2026 MLB All-Star Game.
Who won the 2025 Home Run Derby?
Seattle Mariners’ catcher Cal Raleigh took home the Home Run Derby trophy last season.
Home Run Derby champions
Below is a look at past Home Run Derby champions dating back to 2016:
- 2016: Giancarlo Stanton (Marlins)
- 2017: Aaron Judge (Yankees)
- 2018: Bryce Harper (Nationals)
- 2019: Pete Alonso (Mets)
- 2020: N/A Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
- 2021: Pete Alonso (Mets)
- 2022: Juan Soto (Nationals)
- 2023: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays)
- 2024: Teoscar Hernández (Dodgers)
- 2025: Cal Raleigh (Mariners)
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