Full Breakdown
2026 MLB All-Star Home Run Derby Set for Philadelphia
7/7/2026, 11:55:35 PM
Venue and New Swing-Based Format
The 2026 Home Run Derby will be staged at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on July 13. Statcast ranks the ballpark the fifth-best home-run venue in the majors. MLB has replaced the timed-round format with a swing-based system: each competitor receives 20 swings in the opening round, and the tournament proceeds without a clock. The league’s announcement emphasized that “The clock is no more.” (CBS Sports).
Key Contenders: Junior Caminero and Ben Rice
Junior Caminero – Tampa Bay Rays
The 22-year-old third baseman entered the Derby after a six-game home-run streak, tallying either 22 or 26 homers in the 2026 season (sources differ). He leads the majors with an 80 mph average bat speed, the fastest recorded. Caminero finished runner-up in the 2025 Derby and, at 21 last season, hit 45 home runs—second only to Eddie Mathews’ 47 as a 21-year-old.
Ben Rice – New York Yankees
The left-handed first baseman/DH confirmed his participation via Instagram, noting his father, former Brown University pitcher Dan Brown, will pitch to him in Philadelphia. Rice has 25 homers this season (tied for fifth-most in MLB) and a slash line of .267/.360/.565, though another source lists .255/.337/.499. He posts a 91.8 mph average exit velocity (87th percentile) and a 14.7 % barrel rate (89th percentile). However, he has struck out 86 times in 85 games, a 24.9 % whiff rate.
Statistical Comparison
- Home runs: Caminero (22-26) vs. Rice (25)
- Bat speed / exit velocity: Caminero 80 mph (fastest in MLB) vs. Rice 91.8 mph exit velocity
- Barrel / HR-to-fly-ball ratio: Rice 14.7 % barrel, 36.2 % HR-to-fly-ball; Caminero 43.3 % HR-to-fly-ball (leading AL)
- Whiff rate: Rice 24.9 % (86 K/85 G); no comparable metric reported for Caminero
- Age: Caminero 22; Rice reported as 22 in one outlet and 27 in another
Official Statements & MLB Response
MLB’s schedule confirms the Derby will air on Netflix and notes the shift to a 20-swing format, removing the previous timed rounds. The league’s communication highlighted the change: “The clock is no more.” (CBS Sports). No additional comments from the commissioner or player union were provided.
Criticism & Concerns
Analysts caution that eliminating the clock could encourage a “Take Pitches Derby,” where batters wait for optimal pitches rather than swing continuously. Rice’s high whiff rate raises questions about his ability to maintain rhythm across multiple rounds. Caminero’s youth, while impressive, makes him the youngest ever to compete for the title, a factor some observers view as a risk.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Rice’s age: Reported as 22 (TheBigLead) and 27 (BleacherReport).
- Rice’s slash line: .267/.360/.565 (CBS, NorthJersey) versus .255/.337/.499 (BleacherReport).
- Caminero’s 2026 home-run total: 22 (CBS) versus 26 (ESPN).
- Caminero’s 2025 home-run total: 45 (CBS) versus unspecified in other sources.
No official clarification has been issued.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Dad and I are heading to the HR Derby! Swipe to see our first practice round.” — Ben Rice, New York Yankees first baseman/DH (Instagram)
- “Winning the Home Run Derby is about stringing together multiple rounds of consistent home runs, and getting out of a rhythm can spell doom for any slugger.” — ESPN analysis
- “The clock is no more.” — CBS Sports (article)
- “The Home Run Derby takes place July 13 and will air on Netflix.” — TheScore (article)
What’s Next
The full eight-player field will be revealed in the days leading up to All-Star Week. The Derby’s bracket will be posted on MLB’s official site, followed by live coverage on July 13. Subsequent All-Star festivities, including the Home Run Derby winner’s prize and the All-Star Game, will conclude the weekend’s schedule.
