Former Indiana slugger Kyle Schwarber is set to take center stage in the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby on Monday night. Schwarber currently leads all of baseball with 32 home runs, and will now look to claim the title of Home Run Derby champion.
The field that Schwarber will be competing against include his Philadelphia teammate Bryce Harper, Tampa Bay's Junior Caminero, Boston's Willson Contreras, Kansas City's Jack Caglianone, St. Louis' Jordan Walker, Munetaka Murakami of the White Sox, and Ben Rice of the Yankees.
It's a competitive field that should produce a vastly entertaining night. However, Schwarber seems to have a leg up on the competition and is considered to the frontrunner to win it all.
Kyle Schwarber is built to win the Home Run Derby
This will be the third time that Schwarber will take cuts in the Home Run Derby, but he has yet to be victorious. Back in 2018, his first derby saw him blast a total of 55 home runs over three stages and finish as the runner-up to his now-teammate Bryce Harper. Schwarber fell just short, as Harper won the final round 19-18.
5-star Indiana Football target Monshun Sales sets official commitment date
The former Hoosier then participated in the 2022 derby during his first season with the Phillies. Schwarber was upset by Albert Pujols in the first round, so he will undoubtedly be looking to put forth a better performance this time around. Juan Soto went on to win the 2022 derby.
In the yes of professional oddsmakers, Schwarber is the slugger to beat. With odds of +350 on DraftKings Sportsbook, Schwarber has the shortest odds to win the 2026 derby. Caminero isn't far behind with odds of +425 of his own.
Schwarber's previous derby experience, as well as his elite power make him the top choice to win it all. Furthermore, the 2026 Home Run Derby will take place at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, which gives Schwarber a distinct home field advantage.
So far this season, Schwarber has hit 19 of his 32 home runs at home. In addition, he owns an impressive .663 slugging percentage to go along with a 1.044 OPS at Citizens Bank Park. Those numbers dip to a .473 slugging percentage and .826 OPS when playing on the road.
New format in 2026 Home Run Derby
Major League Baseball has gotten rid of outs as well as the timer that was used in the Home Run Derby over the last few years. New for the 2026 derby, contestants will have 20 swings to hit as many home runs as possible in the first round. Ties are decided by the longest home run distance of each player. The top-four home run hitters of the first round advance.
In the second round, the contestants will be seeded based on their results in Round 1. The second round features 15 swings to hit as many long balls as possible, and if there are ties, contestants will move to a swing-off consisting of three swings each. The same rules apply for the final round.
The highly-anticipated event is set to begin at 8 p.m. ET on Monday night and will be broadcast live on Netflix.
2026 Home Run Derby odds
Kyle Schwarber (+350)
Junior Caminero (+425)
Munetaka Murakami (+500)
Jac Caglianone (+650)
Jordan Walker (+700)
Bryce Harper (+850)
Ben Rice (+850)
Wilson Contreras (+1200)
Betting odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Add us as a preferred source on Google