Jordan Walker's Home Run Derby Win Paid More Than His Cardinals Salary
Jordan Walker stunned the fans at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park with a comeback win in MLB‘s Home Run Derby to defeat hometown hero Kyle Schwarber.
The finals featured Schwarber hitting first and knocking 11 home runs out of the park to delight the Phillies fans in attendance. However, Walker saved an epic performance for the final round, as he needed three home runs with one swing left, and delivered to get a 12-11 victory.
That stunned the fans cheering on Schwarber and gave Walker his first-ever Home Run Derby trophy. He received a commemorative gold chain with the Liberty Bell on it, along with some hefty prize money.
The Derby winner receives $1 million in prize money, and that’s more than Walker makes on his one-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, currently earning $799,400, per Spotrac.
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Walker signed that contract for just this year, and now it appears the price of his services is rising. Some believe that the Cardinals won’t be able to afford him, which could lead to him joining another MLB team.
The Cardinals’ All-Star advanced past the first round by hitting 13 longballs, tying the Boston Red Sox’s Wilson Contreras for the most of the round. He then bested the Tampa Bay Rays’ Junior Caminero, 6-5 in the semifinals to set up his showdown with Schwarber.
Schwarber clearly had the crowd’s support, but Walker allowed the fans’ boos to drive him to a successful night. While Schwarber and Caminero were the favorites ahead of the contest, Walker has been one of the top 10 home run hitters in the league.
His 22 home runs for the Cardinals are tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani and Toronto Blue Jays’ Kazuma Okamoto for 10th overall in MLB.
“I was once told you don’t boo nobodies,” he responded when asked about having 40,000 fans booing him at Citizens Bank Park.
Walker’s certainly not a nobody after crushing 12 dingers to defeat Schwarber in that final round, even amazing Barry Bonds, who was part of Netflix’s commentary panel.
“That was the greatest Home Run Derby I’ve ever seen,” Bonds told Walker after his win.
Walker made history with Monday’s Home Run Derby win, also becoming the first-ever Cardinal to win the event. That’s surprising considering the history of players who have worn the jersey, including legends like Albert Pujols and Mark McGwire.
He’ll make more history when he plays in his first-ever All-Star Game in Philadelphia on Tuesday night as the National League battles the American League in the Midsummer Classic.
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This story was originally published July 14, 2026 at 7:38 AM.