Full Breakdown
2026 MLB Home Run Derby Set for Philadelphia Showdown
7/10/2026, 1:06:53 PM
Event Overview
The 2026 MLB Home Run Derby will take place on July 13 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, the same venue hosting the All-Star Game on July 14. The contest adopts a new “swing-limit” format: hitters receive 20 swings in the first round and 15 swings in each of the final two rounds, with ties broken by distance in round 1 and a three-swing swing-off in later rounds. The champion will be awarded a Liberty Bell-inspired chain set with 250 rubies, a nod to Philadelphia’s historic bell and the United States’ Semiquincentennial celebration. The event will be streamed on Netflix and promoted with a traveling “Liberty Bell” truck that will stop in Boston, New York City and Philadelphia.
Confirmed Participant Lineup
- Jac Caglianone – Kansas City Royals first baseman, 14 home runs (85 games), 93.7 mph average exit velocity, 57.2 % hard-hit rate (98th percentile).
- Ben Rice – New York Yankees slugger, 26 home runs (86 games), top-10 percentile in average exit velocity, launch-angle sweet-spot and barrel rate.
- Junior Caminero – Tampa Bay Rays outfielder, 26 home runs, runner-up in the 2025 Derby, returning with Rays field coordinator Tomas Francisco as pitcher.
- Willson Contreras – Boston Red Sox first baseman, 20 home runs (87 games), career-high .513 xSLG, veteran presence at age 34.
Four additional slots remain open; speculation includes Phillies powerhouses Kyle Harper and Bryce Harper, as well as Colorado’s Hunter Goodman and St. Louis’s Jordan Walker.
Player Profiles
Jac Caglianone
The 23-year-old Royals rookie broke out in June, hitting nine home runs and posting a .309/.387/.649 slash line. Statcast ranks his exit velocity, hard-hit percentage and bat speed in the 96th-plus percentile, making him a natural fit for the showcase.
Ben Rice
Rice leads the Yankees with 26 homers and praised his father, former Brown pitcher Dan Rice, who will serve as his Derby pitcher. He aims to become the first Yankee champion since Aaron Judge in 2017.
Junior Caminero
Caminero’s 2025 runner-up finish (18-15 final) and his recent streak of seven homers in 15 games have kept him in the Derby conversation. Rays manager Kevin Cash highlighted his “seeing the ball well” approach.
Willson Contreras
A Red Sox reserve after replacing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on the AL All-Star roster, Contreras hopes to be the first Red Sox winner since David Ortiz in 2010.
Data & Metrics
- Caglianone: 93.7 mph avg. exit velocity; 57.2 % hard-hit rate (98th percentile).
- Rice: Top-88th percentile in avg. exit velocity; 90th percentile in launch-angle sweet-spot; 91st percentile in barrel rate.
- Caminero: 26 home runs, 15 RBIs in his last 14 games.
- Contreras: 20 home runs, .513 xSLG, 26.5 % pull-air rate.
Official Statements & Responses
MLB announced that the Derby prize “features an imitation Liberty Bell embedded with 250 rubies” and will travel the East Coast in a themed truck as part of a Netflix promotion. The league also confirmed the swing-limit format, noting that “participants only get a certain number of swings before they have to either hit another home run or stop.” Netflix confirmed the event will air live at 8 p.m. ET on July 13.
Criticism & Opposition
AL home-run leader Yordan Alvarez publicly declined to participate, prompting disappointment among Houston fans who had expected the league’s top slugger to join the field. Analysts and fans have also expressed frustration over the still-unfilled four spots, citing a desire for more veteran names.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the number of officially confirmed entrants: some list only four participants (Caglianone, Rice, Caminero, Contreras), while others reference an eight-person lineup with four slots pending. Additionally, speculation about Harper, Schwarber, Goodman and Walker appears in some reports but lacks formal confirmation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I was really honored. I was hoping they’d ask,' said Rice, who'll aim to become the first Yankees player to win the derby since Aaron Judge in 2017. 'It doesn’t feel real until they actually reach out, but it was cool when they did.” — Ben Rice, New York Yankees slugger
- “I was really honored. I was hoping they’d ask,' said Rice, who'll aim to become the first Yankees player to win the derby since Aaron Judge in 2017. 'It doesn’t feel real until they actually reach out, but it was cool when they did.” — Ben Rice
- “'I had to think through it and make sure it was the right decision to participate and see if my dad could do it," Rice said, noting that his father has thrown to him from the time he learned to play to the present.” — Ben Rice
- “They asked me if I wanted to and I said 'Yeah,” — Willson Contreras, Boston Red Sox first baseman
- “The way he's doing it with the power and the not chasing and the not whiffing is just so impressive.” — Griffin Jax, Tampa Bay Rays pitcher
What’s Next
The Derby will kick off at 8 p.m. ET on July 13, followed by the 2026 MLB All-Star Game on July 14, televised by FOX. MLB will announce the remaining four participants in the days leading up to the event.
