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St. Louis Cardinals star Jordan Walker hit the baseball jackpot by winning the Home Run Derby.
Walker, 24, made more money winning the Home Run Derby on Monday night than he will make this season with the Cardinals.
Walker homered on his last six swings of the night, and with his electrifying comeback that knocked out hometown hero and Philadelphia Phillies star Kyle Schwarber at Citizens Bank Park, he won $1 million. The prize money more than doubled his earnings for the season, as he is earning $799,400 from the Cardinals, according to Spotrac.
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St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker competes in the MLB All-Star Game Home Run Derby on Monday in Philadelphia. (Matt Slocum/AP)
The Home Run Derby had a prize pool of $2.5 million. The winner received $1 million, the runner-up, Schwarber, $500,000. The remaining six participants each received $150,000.
Tampa Bay Rays star Junior Caminero hit the longest home run of the night at 491 feet and received $100,000 for the farthest blast.
Walker played the role of villain Monday, as the raucous Philadelphia crowd cheered as loudly for Schwarber’s home runs as they did for Walker’s mishaps during the Finals.
“I was once told that you don’t boo anybody,” Walker said on the field while receiving his trophy, according to MLB.com. “So it feels pretty good.”
Schwarber opened the finale with 11 home runs in 15 swings, leaving Walker with a difficult task. It looked like Schwarber would win when Walker left the yard on just six of his first 12 swings, but he proceeded to fire off six in a row to send the 43,863 Phillies fans disappointed.
“I can’t even describe what it means to win it,” Walker said, his voice hoarse in the moments after his victory. “It was a lot of changes, a lot of pressure, but I think I had fun no matter what. Every round, I had a good time.”
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St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker celebrates after winning the MLB All-Star Game Home Run Derby on Monday in Philadelphia. (Matt Slocum/AP)
Despite receiving many boos from the Philadelphia crowd, Walker appreciated the love for his players.
“My thought was, ‘Philadelphia is brutal,'” Walker said. “I mean, honestly. But I think it’s very special because they love their players and that’s what you want from your house… I can’t hate them, because that’s their type.”
Walker emerged this year as a star for the Cardinals and earned his first All-Star nod. The Georgia native was one of the sport’s top prospects when he debuted in 2023 and impressed.
During his rookie campaign, he hit .276 with 16 home runs and 51 RBI in 117 games.
However, over the next two seasons, Walker struggled. In 2024, he played just 51 games and hit .201 with five home runs. In 2025, he played in 111 games and hit .215 with six home runs.
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Jordan Walker of the St. Louis Cardinals reacts after winning the MLB All-Star Game Home Run Derby on Monday in Philadelphia. (Matt Rourke/AP)
His struggles over the previous two seasons make his return to the all-star game even more impressive. In 93 games this season, Walker has a .294 batting average with 22 home runs and his 74 RBIs lead the major leagues.
The 6-foot-6 right fielder’s presence in the lineup has helped boost a young Cardinals team that has exceeded expectations this season. The Cardinals are 50-45, third in the NL Central and in the middle of the Wild Card race.
Walker will represent the National League in the All-Star Game when they take on the American League at 8 pm ET on Tuesday on FOX.
