T-Mobile Home Run Derby 2026 Details

The 2026 T-Mobile Home Run Derby is set to take place at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Monday, July 13th at 8:00 PM ET. For the first time, it will be streamed live on Netflix. This year’s lineup features a dynamic mix of emerging talent along with seasoned pros, including Bryce Harper, the 2018 Derby champion.

This marks the second occasion that the Home Run Derby is being hosted in Philadelphia. The inaugural event happened back in 1996, where Barry Bonds triumphed over Mark McGwire to claim the title.

Home Run Derby Rules and Format

The format for the 2026 Home Run Derby is changing. In past Derbies, players had three minutes or 40 pitches to hit as many home runs as they could. But Major League Baseball is ditching the timer and introducing a swing-based system. This is quite different, right?

Now, participants will get 20 swings in the first round, 15 in the second, and 15 again in the final round. If a participant hits a home run with their last swing, they can keep going until they stop hitting home runs. There won’t be any bonus rounds or brackets in the opening round.

The hope is that these new rules will slow things down a bit and decrease injury risk. The last Derby was as much a test of endurance as it was of skill, which could be both thrilling and a bit overwhelming.

In the first round, the top four home run hitters will move on to the semifinals, where they’ll be seeded by how they performed in the first round. The finals will then have the two finalists compete in a bracket format: 1st vs. 4th place and 2nd vs. 3rd place.

If there’s a tie in the first round, the home run distance will determine the winner. Additionally, tie-breakers will involve swing-offs in the semifinals and finals until a winner is declared.

Now that we have the rules sorted, let’s move on to the participants.

Jack Carianone, Kansas City Royals

Royals outfielder Jack Carianone will be making his Derby debut. The Royals have had a challenging season, but Carianone’s performance has stood out. In his second year in the majors, he’s notched 15 home runs and holds a .461 slugging percentage—definitely someone to keep an eye on.

Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays

Rays third baseman Junior Caminero returns for his second Derby. He had a solid 2025 but fell short against Cal Lowry in the finals. With 28 home runs this year, he’s looking to maintain that momentum, especially after hitting 15 home runs in just 37 games recently.

Willson Contreras, Boston Red Sox

Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras is also stepping onto the Derby stage for the first time in his 11th major league season. After being traded to Boston, he’s already equaled his total home runs from last year with 20 and is just a few shy of his personal best from 2019.

Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies

Harper, the defending champion and first baseman for the Phillies, is a familiar face in the Derby, having previously won in 2018. With 20 home runs this season, his experience likely makes him a front-runner—especially with the hometown crowd cheering him on.

Munetaka Murakami, Chicago White Sox

First baseman Munetaka Murakami of the White Sox is perhaps the most unexpected entrant. He had a strong start with 20 home runs in his first 57 games but faced a setback with a hamstring injury. After recovering, he’s back and ready for the Derby, having stepped in as the first All-Star to replace an injured player.

Ben Rice, New York Yankees

Yankees first baseman Ben Rice, also making his Derby debut, is a former 12th round pick who has stepped into a crucial role with 29 home runs so far. That’s third in the majors, and his .599 slugging percentage ranks closely behind the leader.

Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies

For a Derby favorite, you can’t overlook Phillies DH Kyle Schwarber. He hit 56 home runs last season and leads the league with 32 this year. His recent performance at Citizens Bank Park has been impressive—definitely a player to watch!

Jordan Walker, St. Louis Cardinals

A standout story this year is Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker. After struggling in his early career, he made a comeback, currently leading the majors with 74 RBIs and hitting 22 home runs, which is already a significant improvement from his past seasons.

Honestly, I’m leaning towards Junior Caminero. He came really close last year and has been on fire lately. But can anyone really compete with Schwarber’s power at home? It might just be a tough match-up; he has a solid history of hitting well at Citizens Bank Park. Just like in 2018, it could be quite the showdown.