The MLB's biggest sluggers are set to put on an explosive show of hitting firepower in the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Monday night.
The power-packed eight-man field will compete to see who can clear the fences the most times to land the trophy won by Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners last season.
It's almost a completely new field this season, with Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays the only competitor returning from the 2025 showdown, while the hosting club is represented by two players with Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies both lining up.
2026 MLB Home Run Derby Tips Summary
Best Bet - Junior Caminero to win Home Run Derby @ 9/2
Alternative Bet - Ben Rice to win Home Run Derby @ 9/1
Alternative Bet - Kyle Schwarber to hit the longest home run @ 3/1
2026 MLB Home Run Derby Prediction
Best Bet: Junior Caminero to win Home Run Derby @ 9/2
The MLB's Home Run Derby has produced first-time winners in each of the last four years and that trend could be extended with Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays looking a prime candidate to be named king of the sluggers in Philadelphia on Monday night.
Caminero is the only hitter in the field who competed in the event last season, so has a slight edge over his rivals on recent experience, but his key asset is his red-hot form.
The 23-year-old third baseman has the potential to become one of the league's biggest stars and after hitting 45 home runs last season he already has 28 this year.
Caminero blasted 10 balls over the fences in June including a sensational run that saw him go yard in six consecutive games, scoring eight in all in that stretch thanks to a three-HR day against the Royals.
He will arrive in top nick as he has hit homers against the Yankees and the Mariners in recent days and should put up a bold showing.
Caminero didn't just compete last year, he went all the way to the final against Cal Raleigh of the Mariners. The Rays star finished tied for first in the opening round with 21 home runs before edging a low-scoring semi-final 8-7 against Byron Buxton, but he then ran Raleigh close in the final, going down 18-15.
The rules have been altered this year, so each batter will be allowed 20 swings in the first round and 15 in the two later matches, rather than as many hits as they can manage within a time limit, but Caminero should thrive again.
Current Phillies duo Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper competed in the 2018 final, when Harper triumphed 19-18 over Schwarber, who was then with the Cubs.
There is an element of risk with Schwarber, though, even though he leads the league with 32 HRs this season, as his participation has been in doubt with a back issue, so Caminero is preferred.
Alternative Bet: Ben Rice to win Home Run Derby @ 9/1
The design of the ball park has to be taken into account and the short right-field porch at Citizens Bank Park gives a slight advantage to left-handed hitters who would naturally target that area.
That includes Schwarber, but also brings Yankees first baseman Ben Rice into the equation. The 27-year-old looks a value option as the seventh favourite in the eight-player list.
He is third in the home-run standings this season with 29 home runs in only 90 games and has his eye in after scoring five home runs in six games before the Yankees' final match with the Nationals on Sunday. He has had at least one hit in seven straight games and may be the pick of the outsiders.
Alternative Bet: Kyle Schwarber to hit the longest home run @ 3/1
The market on the player to hit the longest home run of the night in Philadelphia is less competitive than the outright heat and Schwarber looks a more solid favourite in that one.
He would have a chance to win this market even if he doesn't have the stamina to win the title due to his recent back injury and could crack a winning hit over the fence even if he struggles later on.
Schwarber has regularly featured among the suppliers of the beefiest blasts in the league and recorded a 457ft effort against the Mets at the Derby venue as recently as June 20th.
Key Stats
- None of the last six Home Run Derby winners are taking part this year
- Junior Caminero was runner-up in last year's event
- Bryce Harper (2018) is the only former winner in the field
- Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper are playing in their own team's stadium
- Kyle Schwarber leads the MLB home run standings this season with 32 (excluding Sunday's games)
- Ben Rice has scored five HRs in his last six games (before Sunday)
Read more MLB betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
