Jordan Walker made history on Monday night by winning the Home Run Derby, becoming the first player from the St. Louis Cardinals to achieve this feat. He captured the title by defeating Philadelphia Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber in the final round with an impressive performance.
Schwarber, a fan favorite in Philadelphia, hit 11 home runs during his turn. However, Walker’s last six swings secured his victory, leaving Phillies fans silent as they exited the arena. After his win, Walker remarked, “I was once told you don’t boo nobodies. So it feels pretty good.”
Schwarber had advanced to the finals by defeating Willson Contreras from Boston in the second round, while Walker overcame Junior Caminero from Tampa Bay in the same round. Schwarber, known as the league’s home run leader, enjoyed strong support from fans throughout the night.
Walker, 24, embraced the crowd’s jeers while donning his Cardinals jersey with the top button undone. Despite the pressure, he showed composure during the All-Star Game festivities. Schwarber commented on Walker’s win, saying, “He earned it.”
Walker celebrated with his family on the field, reminiscent of his early days of hitting long home runs as a child. His victory was sealed in thrilling style, hitting his seventh homer with two swings left and his eighth shortly after. Bonus swings followed, allowing him to reach 10 homers in total, much to the dismay of booing fans. Walker finished his performance with fireworks lighting up the sky.
“That was impressive,” shared Schwarber, who ended as the runner-up for a second time.
Walker’s performance is part of a breakout season for the first-time All-Star, already achieving a career-high of 22 home runs. The newly revamped Derby format, with a return to a swing system instead of a timed clock, added drama to the event. This allowed players more time to track their home runs and gave the crowd ample opportunity to express their disapproval.
During the competition, participants had 20 swings in the first round, with the top four advancing. In the second round, hitters faced off based on seeding, with Schwarber and Bryce Harper expected by optimistic Phillies fans to reach the final, only for Harper to fall short. Schwarber, a former finalist in 2018, expressed disappointment, saying, “Bittersweet. I wanted both of us to move on.”
At Citizens Bank Park, the event marked the first Home Run Derby and All-Star Game held there since its opening in 2004. The Derby attracted a sold-out crowd and was aired on Netflix as part of a three-event package. This included the Field of Dreams game scheduled for August 13 between the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies.
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