The summer of fun in South Philadelphia continues this week with events surrounding the MLB All-Star Game.
Phillies fans were out in full force as Citizens Bank Park played host to the 2026 Home Run Derby on Monday night.
The last time Philadelphia hosted the All-Star Game was in 1996 at Veterans Stadium. Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber were just three years old. On Monday, both All-Stars had the opportunity to participate in the Home Run Derby.
Samantha Donnelly, of Churchville, was one of the many Phillies fans who got to the ballpark early.
"This is my first Home Run Derby game, so I'm excited to see Kyle, Bryce Harper, hopefully hit some home runs. I wanna see Philadelphia get the W."
Hours before the Derby started, the Bank was packed with people heading to the pro shop and hanging out in Ashburn Alley.
Action News spoke with Juan Namnun as he made his way through the crowd.
"I mean this is like Route 76 at 5:30 on a Wednesday night," Namnun said.
But Namnun said he was thrilled to be in the bumper-to-bumper traffic.
"This is heaven. This is baseball heaven tonight."
Just above him, Sue Tamny and her family sat in the bleachers gearing up for the night ahead of them. Tamny called this a bucket list experience.
"I don't know why, but I've always loved the All-Star Game," she explained. "So when it was coming to Philadelphia, I said I wanna go! I don't know how, but I gotta go."
PHILADELPHIA — The young upstart beat the veteran hometown hero in MLB’s Home Run Derby.
Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker upset Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber in the league’s home run contest before a raucous crowd at Citizens Bank Park, prevailing by a 12-11 score in the final. Walker completed a closing rally with six straight home runs on his final six swings to overtake Schwarber.
The 24-year-old Walker, a fourth-year player in the midst of a breakout season for the resurgent Cardinals, will gain a $1 million prize for winning the Home Run Derby—the largest part of the league’s $2.5 million prize pool for the event. Those winnings for Walker more than eclipse his entire 2026 salary of $799,400.
He is also the first Cardinal to win the Home Run Derby, despite a storied franchise history that includes former stars such as Mark McGwire and Albert Pujols.
Schwarber will get the $500,000 runner-up prize.
Bryce Harper, the other Home Run Derby competitor from the All-Star Game host club Phillies, did not advance beyond the first round.
Harper and five other Home Run Derby competitors—the Rays’ Junior Caminero, the Red Sox’ Willson Contreras, Royals’ Jac Caglianone, White Sox’ Munetaka Murakami, and Yankees’ Ben Rice—earned $150,000 each. Caminero also had the longest home run of the night, at 491 feet, to garner an additional $100,000.
Despite a move to an untimed competition format for the first time since 2014, this year’s Home Run Derby still moved with crispness and was complete before 10:40 p.m. ET. Instead of going by batter outs, as had been the case before the use of a timer, this year’s structure went by the number of swings.
Cheering on Schwarber’s run to the finals, the Philadelphia fans, meanwhile, are giving an even more definitively local feel to an All-Star Game missing MLB’s two biggest stars and many top pitchers.
Similar to the migration of sports content to streaming that has sparked governmental outcry elsewhere, Netflix carrying the derby prompted a predictable run of complaints from fans.
“I miss when the hardest part of watching sports was finding the remote,” read one typical fan complaint on social media. “Now I need a flowchart, six streaming services, QR codes, two-factor authentication, and blood samples just to watch guys hit the long balls us chicks dig so much.”
MLB’s strategy with placing the Home Run Derby on Netflix, though, was getting in front of a younger group of fans, and a larger collection of people as well. Netflix has a domestic reach of about 90 million homes, and has more than 325 million subscribers globally, and both measures are still growing. ESPN’s linear channel, by comparison, is in roughly 60 million U.S. households—down by 40% from a peak seen 15 years ago.
The Home Run Derby production itself alternated between two different crews of talent. That collection of personalities was highlighted in part by MLB legends Barry Bonds and Pujols, MLB’s Nos. 1 and 4 all-time home run hitters.
Philadelphia Phillies DH Kyle Schwarber GettyNEW YORK, NY - JULY 15: Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals gets a hug from his father Ron Haper during the Chevrolet Home Run Derby on July 15, 2013 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JULY 07: Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees reacts after hitting a three-run home run in the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on July 07, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
One of the most popular, fun, and entertaining events on Major League Baseball’s calendar each season is the T-Mobile Home Run Derby, which is a fan-favorite All-Star break festivity that features eight of MLB’s top sluggers duking it out for a prize of $1 million. The All-Star game (and Home Run Derby) is being held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the Phillies’ home ballpark, Citizens Bank Park.
MLB.com’s Thomas Harrington provided some insight on the new Home Run Derby format, which is powered by T-Mobile:
“Eight players will still make up the field, same as in years past. But instead of trying to hit as many homers as they can during timed rounds, participants will start each round with a finite number of swings: 20 in Round 1, 15 in Round 2 and 15 again in the final round.”
“All swings will count against a playerâs swing allotment, whether it results in a homer or not. However, a player who homers on his final swing of a round can keep swinging until he doesn’t hit one out.”
The eight sluggers participating in the 2026 Home Run Derby include: Kyle Schwarber (Philadelphia Phillies), Bryce Harper (Phillies), Munetaka Murakami (Chicago White Sox), Junior Caminero (Tampa Bay Rays, 2025 runner-up), Jac Caglianone (Kansas City Royals), Willson Contreras (Boston Red Sox), Jordan Walker (St. Louis Cardinals), and Ben Rice (New York Yankees).
It’s a pretty stacked field, and honestly, one of the more anticipated Home Run Derbies in recent memory, it feels like. Two participants from the host city (Schwarber, Harper), last year’s runner-up in Caminero, and a guaranteed new winner. Add in the likes of rookie slugger Munetaka Murakami, and rising stars in Ben Rice, Jordan Walker, and Jac Caglianone. Sign me up.
Let’s get into some of the very important details of the event, plus some sharp predictions/odds.
More MLB on Heavy: Dodgers Trade Rumors: Tarik Skubal Chances, Top Needs Revealed, Who Could Be On The Move?
How to Watch MLB Home Run Derby, Presented by T-Mobile.
NEW YORK, NY – JULY 15: Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals gets a hug from his father Ron Haper during the Chevrolet Home Run Derby on July 15, 2013 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
How to watch the T-Mobile Home Run Derby. Event details:
Channel: Watch the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby live on Netflix. This is the first time that Netflix is hosting the event.
Time:Â The 2026 Home Run Derby is set to take place at 8:00 p.m. There is pre-event coverage at 7:00 p.m. ET, and also player introductions, which will likely start at 8.
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, @ Citizens Bank Park.Â
GettyST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – JULY 07: Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees reacts after hitting a three-run home run in the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on July 07, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
First, let’s start off with the odds for each participant to win the HRD, courtesy of FanDuel SportsBook. Odds are subject to change:
*Indicates home run total for 2026.
Kyle Schwarber (+290); $100 bet wins $290 ($390 total) *32
Junior Caminero (+400); $100 bet wins $500. *28
Munetaka Murakami (+550) *20
Jac Caglianone (+700) *15
Jordan Walker (+700) *22
Bryce Harper (+950) *20
Ben Rice (+1000) *29
Willson Contreras (+1100) *20
Disrespect on behalf of Ben Rice?? Perhaps.
Prediction Time!!
Kyler Schwarber is very obviously going to be the most popular pick to win this thing, and why wouldn’t he be? Schwarber has been the perfect HRD candidate, but he’s turned the event down in recent memory. He remains the game’s top pure slugger, and in his home ballpark, it’s possible he just flicks balls out of the yard.
However, for my prediction, I’m going to hand out two potential winners that I like to win the whole thing.
Prediction: Junior Caminero (+400); Ben Rice (+1000)Â
The biggest factor I take into account when trying to bet this event is which players need the $1 million the most (right now). Of course, every player in this event is going to get paid in due time, but the players whose salaries are less than $1 million on this list are Ben Rice, Junior Caminero, Jordan Walker, and Jac Caglianone.
Murakami, Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and Willson Contreras are all signed MLB players.
Well, if you made it this far, thanks for reading, and enjoy the 2026 Home Run Derby, presented by T-Mobile.
This week, Philadelphia will host its first All-Star Game in thirty years, and a local artist got to cement himself as part of its history.
Andre Chaney created the All-Star themed Liberty Bell, which can now be seen at the ballpark.
In collaboration with "Bells Across PA," it is one of many fiberglass statues placed in the region to celebrate America's 250th anniversary.
The project was in partnership with Mural Arts Philadelphia and is titled "America's Summer Tradition."
Five Phillies legends were painted onto the piece, all who participated in previous All-Star games: "Dick Allen, Mike Schmidt, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, and Bryce Harper."
"This is All-Star Week here in Philadelphia, which is incredible because we haven't had this since 1996, and I get to be a part of it," said Andre Chaney.
"One of the things my mom taught me is that it's not what you do for people, but it's how you make them feel. I think that I'm able to see that by the way people are responding to the bell, just us championing around each other in the sport of baseball," he continued.
Boston Red Sox CBO Craig Breslow shared insight into the Trade Deadline, and how the team won't need to prove anything to add. GettyBRONX, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 21: New York Yankee general manager Brian Cashman speaks to the media during a press conference at Yankee Stadium on December 21, 2022 in Bronx, New York. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) GettyBraves potential trade package for Joe Ryan revealed. Getty
The Major League Baseball trade deadline is just over three weeks away, and with some minor trades transpiring across the league already, there’s surely a lot more to come in the following weeks. MLB trade rumors are swirling everywhere, and on Sunday, July 12, a new report emerged from USA Today’s Bob Nightenagle that suggests Tarik Skubal may want to stay in Detroit for the rest of the season. Of course, it’s partially just speculation, because what Skubal wants may be different than what the Detroit Tigers want, but that’s a huge development in recent trade rumors.
Another massive development over the past week or so has been the Boston Red Sox recent surge back into AL playoff contention. The American League isn’t putting on the best show this season, as the Red Sox (who are under .500), are just a game out of a playoff spot on the last day before the MLB All-Star break. So, after it looked like they would likely be sellers at this deadline, Boston’s trade deadline plans may be shifting by the day, and there’s almost certainly going to hold onto their key players until the very last day before a decision is made. Remember, the Red Sox also have some of the more coveted players thought to be on the market.
More MLB on Heavy: New York Yankees Receive Encouraging Aaron Judge Update Before All-Star Break
Are the Red Sox Trade Deadline Plans Shifting?
It appears so. The Boston Red Sox are 45-48 after going 8-2 in their last 10 games. They’ve won eight straight games and will go for the sweep of the Mets on Sunday afternoon. Boston has a wealth of ‘tradeable assets’, which include names like Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, Aroldis Chapman, and Jarred Duran. All names that have steadily been linked in trade rumors, but Craig Breslow and the rest of the Red Sox front office may have a completely different trade deadline plan now, after the recent winning surge.
The Red Sox could very well go from sellers to strong buyers in the market. Perhaps their biggest need is another front-line starter with Garrett Crochet still sidelined, and a right-handed hitting infield bat.
So, the Red Sox now carry heavy speculation ahead of Aug. 3, and it will be very interesting to see the moves they make as well as the names they get connected to.
GettyBRONX, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 21: New York Yankee general manager Brian Cashman speaks to the media during a press conference at Yankee Stadium on December 21, 2022 in Bronx, New York. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
The New York Yankees, per usual, are always going to dominate headlines around this part of the season, and given their constant World Series aspirations, Brian Cashman is under a lot of pressure to get this trade deadline right.
New York’s biggest need remains bullpen help. Here are some of the ‘likely’ available trade candidates that they may target: JoJo Romero, Antonio Senzatela, Pete Fairbanks, and AJ Minter.
Sources near and around the Yankees have already indicated that their main focus will be bullpen help, especially with the recent struggles of Camilo Doval, and lacking a true southpaw leverage arm in the Pen.
Braves-Phillies Bidding War for Joe Ryan
GettyBraves potential trade package for Joe Ryan revealed.
The last, and perhaps most important storyline to watch out for over the next three weeks is definitely going to be the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies potential bidding war for Joe Ryan. If Tarik Skubal is no longer going to be traded this season, Joe Ryan immediately surfaces as the top starter available (if the Twins trade him), and he is certainly going to come with a hefty pricetag.
The Braves’ need for a starting pitcher is growing drastically by the day, but the Phillies believe they need another back-end rotation arm, as well, and Dave Dombrowski has been a lot more willing to part with top prospects than Alex Anthopoulos has, which sets up for a bidding war between the NL East foes.
Atlanta holds just a two-game lead in the NL East. Philadelphia has been one of the hottest teams in baseball since early May. With the two duking it out for the division crown, both organizations will likely be targeting similar players, which makes this Joe Ryan- Braves/Phillies a fascinating storyline to watch out for over the next few weeks.
Login
