​Philadelphia Phillies superstar Bryce Harper announced on Thursday that he will participate in the 2026 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby, set to take place at his home ballpark, Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The announcement fills a portion of the eight-man field, leaving six participants confirmed so far. However, that number could rise to seven after Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly appeared to slip during a postgame media session on Thursday night.
Following the Phillies’ 1-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park, a reporter asked Mattingly if he was excited to see Harper swing in the Derby. “Yeah, I am, actually,” Mattingly replied. “I’m glad he’s doing it, especially in Philly. Him and Kyle both, right?” By “Kyle,” Mattingly was referring to Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber. The reporters then informed Mattingly that Schwarber had not yet made an announcement about his own Derby plans. “Not sure on Kyle yet? Okay,” Mattingly said. “I thought Kyle was going to do it. Maybe he’s waiting to make sure everything’s good.”
Schwarber would undoubtedly be a popular choice for Phillies fans and MLB enthusiasts alike. This season he has racked up 32 home runs, leading the majors, three more than anyone else. Last year, his 56 homers led the National League, and he finished just behind Cal Raleigh’s 60 blasts for the most in the majors. Raleigh won the 2025 Home Run Derby. As for Schwarber’s Derby history, he was the runner-up in the 2018 Derby, losing to Harper in a memorable final. Schwarber has competed in two past Home Run Derby events, with another appearance in 2022.
In a broader media landscape, Netflix is entering its first year of a three-year MLB rights deal, and the streaming platform will carry the 2026 Home Run Derby. For the first time since 2014, the Derby will be conducted without a clock, marking a return to the classic, uninterrupted format that fans remember fondly.
The 2026 Home Run Derby field already includes several notable sluggers beyond Harper and Schwarber. Ben Rice of the New York Yankees, Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays, Willson Contreras of the Boston Red Sox, Jac Caglianone of the Kansas City Royals, and Jordan Walker of the St. Louis Cardinals are among the confirmed participants. With Harper’s home-field decision and Mattingly’s mixed signals about Schwarber, the Derby promises a dramatic build-up as more players confirm their participation in the event at Citizens Bank Park.
Harper’s decision to compete at home adds another layer of excitement for Phillies Nation, which has long supported Harper’s power-hitting prowess and leadership in the lineup. The ongoing conversations around Schwarber’s participation continue to generate buzz as fans await official confirmations from the remaining players, who will join Harper in a field that could grow to seven or eight competitors.
As the Derby approaches, anticipation builds for a showcase at Citizens Bank Park, where Harper’s hometown fans will have the chance to witness one of baseball’s most storied power-hitters attempt to add another dazzling moment to his already historic career. The absence or presence of Schwarber’s confirmation will likely influence how the rest of the field rounds out, but Harper’s decision to compete at his home ballpark is a headline in itself, setting the stage for an electric derby in 2026.