p>The 2026 edition of the T-Mobile Home Run Derby arrives with quite a new look to it. This time around, there will be a new lineup of eight of baseball’s premier sluggers, a new format, and a new place to watch it live.
This year, for the first-time ever, fans have a chance to watch the Derby live on the streaming platform Netflix. The 2026 T-Mobile Home Run Derby will start at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on July 13th at 8 p.m. ET.
New Format of the Home Run Derby
The 2026 edition of the Derby comes with a new format. This time around, the usual element of timed rounds that has been in prevalence from 2015 has been taken away. The changes in the format have given the rounds a more finite structure.
Batters who used to try to hit as many homers as possible in the timed rounds in the previous Derby editions here start with a finite number of hits. Each of the eight sluggers will be offered 20 swings in Round 1, 15 swings in Round 2, and 15 again in the Finals.
All swings count towards a player’s allotment, whether it's a homer or not. However, to make things a little more interesting, a player who homers on his final swing of a round has the opportunity to continue swinging until he doesn’t hit one out.
Out of the eight, the top four with the most home runs from the first round, after the 20 swings, will advance to the second round, i.e., the semifinals, where they will be seeded based on their first-round homer totals. The players will face of head-to-head with the No.1 seed facing the No.4, and the seeds No.2 and No.3 facing each other for a spot in the finals.
In the case of ties in the first round, the tiebreaker comes down to the player who hit the longest homer among the tied contestants advancing to the second round. In the case of ties in the semifinals and finals, the ties will be decided by a three-swing swing-off until a winner is determined.
A Closer Look at All 8 Sluggers in the Derby
The 2026 Derby list is absolutely stacked, even with some notable players missing. Let’s take a brief look at each of the eight and see what makes them tick.
1. Junior Caminero
Playing for the Tampa Bay Rays, Caminero brings the much-needed youthful flair into the Derby. A powerful hitter, evident from his recent run of 11 homers in 11 games, he has pushed the Rays to the top. He finished second last year and would be looking to do one better this year, and at 23 years old, will look to become the youngest champion in the history of Derby.
2. Jac Caglianone
Caglianone is another 23-year-old looking to make a mark this year. With just 14 homers, he hasn’t had quite the breakthrough season as other competitors. He is well known for his constant presence in the exit velocity leaderboards.
3.Ben Rice
The Yankees hitter most were expecting to see walk out was Aaron Judge, but in his place, Ben Rice will represent the Yankees. But Rice is no pushover; in the first two months, he was the best hitter for the outfit. He did slow down considerably in June, but he has got his mojo back in July and is one to watch out for.
4.Willson Contreras
Contreras comes into this Derby with a few chaotic weeks behind him. With a suspension, battles with umpires, and the news of the Venezuelan earthquakes back home. An underrated hitter, he has the best thing going on for the Red Sox this season.
5.Jordan Walker
This is a first Derby for first-time All-Star Walker, who was inches away from starting this season at Triple-A after 3 years of struggles. 2026 is his breakthrough year, and he looks set to add to it. He has finally become the hitter the Cardinals wanted.
6.Bryce Harper
Harper has already tasted success in 2018 with the Nationals. That’s the last time he took part in the Derby, and it’s been 13 years since his first, when he finished second. With a Hall of Fame career and a chance to compete in front of the home fans, the veteran will look to repeat the feat of a home hitter winning the Derby, a feat he has already achieved in 2018.
7.Kyle Schwarber
Schwarber is taking part in his third Derby, his second time with the Phillies. The one time he competed with the Cubs, he finished second behind current teammate Harper. He will look to do one better and go the distance for that elusive Home Run Derby crown in front of his fans.
8.Munetaka Murakami
Japanese baseball fans will have a reason to tune in this time to see how their countryman fares against the most powerful sluggers in the MLB. Coming off injury woes that have plagued his rookie season, the player will be looking to shrug off the setbacks and make a giant killing, particularly so for the White Sox, who are having a fairytale season of sorts.
