Jordan Walker is fifth confirmed for 2026 Home Run Derby
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker is the fifth confirmed participant in the 2026 T-Mobile Home Run Derby on Monday, July 13, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The 24-year-old first-time All-Star accepted MLB's invitation after a breakout season with 21 home runs and a league-leading 70 RBIs. The Derby airs live at 8 p.m. ET on Netflix.
Key Takeaways
- Walker joins Willson Contreras, Jac Caglianone, Junior Caminero, and Ben Rice; three Derby spots remain open.
- The slugger leads MLB with 70 RBIs, ranks fifth in the NL with 21 homers, and is batting .294 with an .889 OPS.
- Netflix streams the 2026 Home Run Derby live on July 13, with coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
- Walker is the first Cardinals Derby participant since Albert Pujols in 2022; no Cardinal has ever won the event.
- Manager Oli Marmol said the club discussed starting Walker at Triple-A Memphis before his turnaround.
Who else is in the 2026 Home Run Derby field?
Walker is the fifth player announced for the eight-man competition. He joins Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras, Kansas City Royals outfielder Jac Caglianone, Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero, and New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice.
MLB has not yet named the final three participants. The 2020 first-round draft pick becomes the eighth Cardinals player to compete in the Derby, following Jack Clark (1985), Ray Lankford (1997), Mark McGwire (1998-99), Jim Edmonds (2003), Albert Pujols (2003, 2007, 2009, 2022), Matt Holliday (2010-11), and Carlos Beltran (2012).
How can you watch Jordan Walker in the Home Run Derby?
The 2026 T-Mobile Home Run Derby takes place Monday, July 13, at Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park. For the first time, the event streams live on Netflix at 8 p.m. ET, with pre-show coverage starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Walker is also heading to the All-Star Game alongside Cardinals closer Riley O'Brien. For more live sports streaming dates and watch guides, check our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
Why does Walker's Derby berth matter for the Cardinals?
Walker's invitation caps a dramatic reversal for a player who nearly opened the season in the minors. According to Sports Illustrated, reporter Jeff Jones asked manager Oli Marmol whether the Cardinals discussed leaving Walker off the Opening Day roster and starting him at Triple-A Memphis.
Marmol confirmed those conversations took place but said he could not be convinced a demotion was the best move for Walker mentally. The outfielder had slashed .215/.278/.306 with six homers in 111 games last season, and his struggles carried into a difficult spring training where he was benched at times.
Keeping Walker in St. Louis paid off. He is now slashing .294/.355/.534 and has become the centerpiece of a rebuilding Cardinals offense that exceeded early expectations.
Has a Cardinals player ever won the Home Run Derby?
No St. Louis player has ever won the Home Run Derby. Albert Pujols came closest, finishing as runner-up to Garret Anderson in 2003. Walker will try to make franchise history when he steps into the cage on Monday night.
With Netflix carrying the event and three roster spots still open, Walker's confirmation gives fans a clear reason to set reminders now. The young slugger's rise from roster bubble to Derby stage is one of the biggest stories of the 2026 MLB season.