​This year’s MLB All-Star Week is almost here, bringing together the best hitters from the American League and National League for the sport’s annual Midsummer Classic. The 2026 festivities take place at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, the home of the Phillies, with the 96th MLB All-Star Game scheduled for Tuesday, July 14. The week also showcases the Futures Game, the MLB Draft, and the Home Run Derby.
Confirmed participants in the 2026 T-Mobile Home Run Derby include sluggers Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Junior Caminero, Jordan Walker, Munetaka Murakami, Willson Contreras, Ben Rice, and Jac Caglianone. The derby is set for Monday, July 13, beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern Time, and will be available to stream live on Netflix. This event, held the day before the All-Star Game, features eight power hitters competing in a knockout format to determine baseball’s supreme home run hitter. Over the years, the Derby has grown from a straightforward exhibition into one of MLB’s most-watched television events, often rivaling the All-Star Game in scope and excitement.
While winning the Home Run Derby doesn’t define an entire career, a memorable performance can become a defining moment in a player’s legacy. Over the years, numerous players have redefined what’s possible in baseball’s most explosive power showcase.
Randy Arozarena, the Cuban-Mexican outfielder who has starred for the Seattle Mariners, has earned three All-Star selections in his career. When he was with the Tampa Bay Rays, Arozarena finished as the runner-up in the 2023 Derby to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., after homering a remarkable 82 times in the competition that year. He delivered 35 home runs in the semifinal round alone, one of the most explosive single-round performances in Derby history.
David Ortiz, the beloved slugger for the Boston Red Sox, captured the 2010 Home Run Derby title with 32 total homers, defeating the Florida Marlins’ Hanley Ramirez by a final score of 11-5. Ortiz’s impact with the Red Sox helped redefine the franchise’s identity and played a part in lifting the burden of the club’s long World Series drought. His final All-Star appearance in 2016, held in San Diego, was marked by a walk, a heartfelt speech to the American League clubhouse, and a standing ovation from fans and fellow players alike.
Prince Fielder of the Detroit Tigers claimed his second Home Run Derby crown in 2012, after winning in 2009. Fielder produced the four longest home runs of the 2012 Derby at Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium, including two 476-footers. He finished the event with 28 home runs and defeated Jose Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays 12-7 in the final. That 2012 season ended on a high note for Fielder as he finished with 30 homers and 108 RBIs, helping lead the Tigers to the World Series.
Two years after Aaron Judge won the Derby as a rookie, Pete Alonso of the New York Mets claimed the first of his two Derby titles at Progressive Field in Cleveland. Alonso’s triumph added another chapter to the Derby’s history as a proving ground for some of the game’s most prolific power hitters.
As All-Star Week approaches, fans can anticipate a weekend filled with high-powered offense, memorable moments, and the kind of competitive spirit that makes the Midsummer Classic a cornerstone of baseball lore. The 2026 edition promises to deliver thrilling displays of power and precision as the best players in the sport come together at Citizens Bank Park for an unforgettable celebration of baseball.