Kyle Schwarber was widely expected to be the homecoming king of this year's Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park, but he ultimately found himself powerless to stop the St. Louis Cardinals' Jordan Walker. On Monday, July 13, Walker joined Bryce Harper in the exclusive club of players who have managed to pull the rug out from under Schwarber during the competition.
Walker, who is enjoying a breakthrough season, delivered one of the most impressive clutch displays in the history of the event, needing to capitalize on his final swing and two subsequent ones just to match Schwarber’s total of 11 home runs in the final round.
Instead of merely tying, Walker hit four consecutive home runs to secure the win. This victory made him the first Cardinal to ever win a Home Run Derby, a feat that even future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols failed to achieve in three separate attempts. The atmosphere was charged with the energy of 43,000 fans who were clearly rooting for their local stars.
Walker faced a wall of sound that turned into silence as he continued to deposit baseballs into the stands. He noted that he could not harbor any ill will toward the crowd, acknowledging that their behavior was simply a reflection of their love for their own players, specifically Schwarber and Harper.
“My first thought was, Philly’s brutal,” Walker said. “I think it’s pretty special because they love all their players. That’s what you want from your home crowd. I’d never heard people cheer so loud for Schwarber and Harper. Those guys did their thing. I can’t hate ‘em. I just gotta play the game.” Walker’s performance was defined by power, with every home run in the final round traveling between 407 and 452 feet.
Schwarber, who has hit 88 home runs since the start of the 2025 season—the most in the major leagues—was impressed by the quality of Walker’s hits. “He was hitting some laser beams. I’m hitting these little fly balls out, and he’s hitting laser beams,” Schwarber remarked.
The event was scripted for a Phillies victory, with Schwarber and Harper announced last to a roaring crowd. However, the narrative shifted when Harper was eliminated in the first round. In the final, Schwarber put up 11, but Walker’s late-round surge, which included five home runs in his final six swings, proved insurmountable.
Schwarber admitted he never felt the win was guaranteed, noting, “You get to that last ball. It was three to tie, and he went four to win. You tip your hat to him.” This loss was reminiscent of 2018 for Schwarber, when Harper, then playing for the Washington Nationals, narrowly edged him out in the finals.
The competition itself faced criticism for its format change, which replaced the traditional clock with a limited number of swings. While the change had some benefits, critics argued it drained the tension from the event, as the outcome of a round often became predictable before it concluded.
The broadcast, managed by a new streaming service, also drew mixed reviews. The pregame show featured Will Ferrell, Luke Wilson, and a third guest, which some viewers felt added a layer of unnecessary schlock to the proceedings.
Had both Phillies stars been eliminated in the semifinals, the event might have been considered a disaster, but the final duel between Walker and Schwarber provided the necessary excitement to save the night. Walker remained focused on the joy of the game, stating, “I think I just had fun, no matter what. Every round I said, have a good time. As a kid growing up, my favorite thing to do is hitting home runs. There’s a competition dedicated to it.”
