Jordan Walker of the St. Louis Cardinals delighted fans by winning the 2026 Home Run Derby on Monday night. He secured victory over Philadelphia Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber with a last-minute home run, ending the contest with 12 homers in the final round.

The MLB introduced a fresh format for the Derby this year. Each of the eight contenders was granted 20 swings to hit as many home runs as possible. If a participant’s final swing resulted in a home run, they could continue swinging until the ball didn’t leave the park.

Jordan Walker’s parents were in attendance as he hit his winning home run, celebrating the victory in the most fitting manner for a Home Run Derby champion.

Participants didn’t have to race against a clock or focus on hitting balls a great distance. This allowed them to concentrate fully, taking their time when needed. Boston Red Sox’s Willson Contreras made a strong start with 13 homers, tying with Walker as they advanced to the semifinals.

Despite impressive performances, not all contestants advanced. Jac Caglianone of the Kansas City Royals hit eight homers, while Munetaka Murakami of the Chicago White Sox managed nine. Both fell short of the next round. However, Tampa Bay Rays’ Junior Caminero secured 12 home runs, outpacing New York Yankees’ Ben Rice, who hit seven.

Local favorites Schwarber and Bryce Harper faced pressure. Schwarber’s 10 home runs were enough to move forward, while Harper’s eight were not.

In the semifinals, participants needed 15 swings to qualify. Schwarber impressed with nine homers, surpassing Contreras, who notched eight. This performance led Schwarber to the finals, thrilling the home crowd.

Walker narrowly advanced, outscoring Caminero 6-5. In the finals, Schwarber was formidable with 11 home runs in his 15 swings. Walker faced immense pressure to match him.

Starting strong, Walker posted four homers early. Needing perfection in the remaining swings, he reached 10 homers as tension mounted. Finally, he delivered a decisive home run, clinching the victory and the Home Run Derby trophy.

Walker, who is tied for 10th in MLB with 22 home runs this season, is hitting .294 for the Cardinals and has 74 RBIs.