Philadelphia will host the 2026 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby, featuring a lineup of the league's top sluggers. This year's event introduces a modified format where batters receive a set number of swings rather than timed rounds. In the first round, each participant will have 20 swings, which will decrease to 15 swings for the second round and the final.
The new format allows for continuous play as long as a batter hits a home run on their final allowed swing. The top four home run hitters from the first round will advance to the second. Longest home run distance will serve as the tiebreaker for the first round, with a three-swing shootout used to break ties in subsequent rounds.
The field for the 2026 Home Run Derby includes Kyle Schwarber, Junior Caminero, Munetaka Murakami, Jac Caglianone, Jordan Walker, Bryce Harper, Ben Rice, and Willson Contreras. Kyle Schwarber, who leads MLB in home runs with 32 at the All-Star break and is playing in his home ballpark, is the early favorite according to odds from DraftKings.
Beyond betting on an outright winner, various wagering options are available. Bettors can wager on which league will have the most representatives, with the American League having five participants and the National League three. First-round markets include predictions on the most home runs hit, the total combined home runs in the opening round (Over/Under 74.5), and individual player totals.
Additional betting options extend to the longest home run distance (Over/Under 484.5 feet) and the highest Exit Velocity recorded during the first round. Sportsbooks are offering new user welcome bonuses for those looking to participate in betting on the event.
The Home Run Derby is a marquee event during the MLB All-Star Game festivities, which will also include the All-Star Game on Tuesday night. The event typically showcases some of baseball's most prolific home run hitters in a high-stakes, crowd-pleasing competition.