You gotta feel for Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber right now. The guy was just one homer short of making history in the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby, trying to win it in his home park. One single swing, and he would have joined one of the most exclusive clubs in baseball. Instead, St. Louis Cardinals ' Jordan Walker shut down the Philly party, knocking off Schwarber in the final and leaving fans in his opponent's park with a tough pill to swallow.
History Denied: The Home Park Derby Myth
Winning the Home Run Derby in your own ballpark? That's legendary stuff, folks. It's only happened three times before, and Schwarber was on the cusp of making it four. We're talking about elite company here, a feat that former Cincinnati Reds fan favorite Todd Frazier pulled off way back on July 13, 2015, at Great American Ball Park. Get this: the 2026 final, where Schwarber almost did it, was the 11th anniversary of Frazier's iconic win! Is that cosmic or what? The other two guys in that super-exclusive club? There's former Chicago Cub Ryne Sandberg, who crushed it at Wrigley Field in 1990, and then Schwarber's current Philly teammate, Bryce Harper. Harper lit up Nationals Park in 2018 when he was playing for the Nats. Talk about a tough act to follow, especially when the guy who set the bar is right there in your clubhouse!
Harper's Early Exit and a Weekend Slugfest
Speaking of Bryce Harper, he was actually in the 2026 Derby too! But sometimes even the biggest stars have an off night, and Harper didn't make it out of the first round this time around. Kind of wild to think about, considering his history. You might remember Schwarber actually finished as the runner-up to Harper in that 2018 Derby when Schwarber was with the Chicago Cubs. He's been close before, really close! It just shows how tough this competition is. Away from the Derby drama, we saw some big swings in regular season action recently. Take Saturday, July 11, 2026, for example. Over at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, the Reds and Cubs were going at it. Cincinnati Reds left fielder JJ Bleday (22) absolutely crushed a solo home run in the sixth inning. We also saw some solid hits from Cincinnati Reds first baseman Nathaniel Lowe (31) and Chicago Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya (9). Not to be outdone, Chicago Cubs designated hitter Carson Kelly (15) launched a solo homer of his own in the sixth inning. It wasn't all dingers though, with Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) making a big throw to first for an out, and Nico Hoerner (2) turning a double play for the Cubs in the sixth. Even Seiya Suzuki (27) got in on the action with an RBI base hit, scoring Amaya. Pitcher Nick Lodolo (40) was on the mound for the Reds in the fifth, trying to keep things locked down.
What's Next for the Derby Champs and Challengers?
So, Jordan Walker takes home the Derby crown, and Kyle Schwarber has to live with being that close to making history in front of his home crowd. It's a brutal reminder of how hard it is to seize those moments. For these guys, the Derby is a fun detour, but the grind of the regular season keeps rolling. You can bet Schwarber's already looking ahead, putting that one homer miss behind him and focusing on delivering for the Phillies in every at-bat. And for Walker, this win has to be a massive confidence boost as he steps up to the plate. Every swing counts, whether it's in a Derby or a crucial mid-season game!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.