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St. Louis Cardinals star Jordan Walker hit the baseball lottery by winning the Home Run Derby.
Walker, 24, made more money winning the Home Run Derby Monday night than he will make this season with the Cardinals.
Walker homered in his final 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 earned $799,400 from the Cardinals, according to Spotrac.
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St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker participates in the MLB All-Star Home Run derby Monday in Philadelphia. (Matt Slocum/AP)
The Home Run Derby featured 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 was awarded $100,000 for the farthest blast.
Walker played the role of villain Monday, as the raucous Philadelphia crowd cheered as loudly for Schwarber’s homers as they did for Walker’s misadventures in the final out.
“I was once told not to boo anyone,” Walker said on the field as he received his trophy, according to MLB.com. “So that feels good.”
Schwarber opened the final with 11 home runs on 15 swings, leaving Walker with a tall task. It looked like Schwarber would win when Walker left the field on just six of his first 12 swings, but he threw six in a row to send the 43,863 Phillies fans home disappointed.
“I can’t even describe what it means to win,” Walker said, his voice hoarse in the moments after his victory. “It was a lot of swings, a lot of pressure, but I think I just had fun no matter what. Every round I was having a good time.”
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St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker celebrates after winning the MLB All-Star Home Run Derby Monday in Philadelphia. (Matt Slocum/AP)
Although he was the target of many boos from the Philadelphia crowd, Walker appreciated his love for his players.
“I thought Philadelphia is brutal,” Walker said. “I mean, honestly. But I think it’s pretty special because they love their players and that’s what you expect from yourself…I can’t hate them, because that’s their guy.”
Walker became a star for the Cardinals this year and earned his first All-Star Game nomination. 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 RBIs in 117 games.
However, over the next two seasons, Walker struggled. In 2024, he played in 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 Home Run Derby Monday in Philadelphia. (Matt Rourke/AP)
His struggles over the previous two seasons make his stellar return to play 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 bolster a young Cardinals team that has exceeded expectations this season. The Cardinals are 50-45, third in the NL Central and in the heart 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 p.m. ET Tuesday on FOX.
