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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 from winning the Home Run Derby on Monday night than he will earn this season from the Cardinals.
Walker homered on his final six swings of the night, and with his electrifying comeback that took down hometown hero and Philadelphia Phillies star Kyle Schwarber at Citizens Bank Park, he earned $1 million. The prize money more than doubled his income for the season, as he is earning $799,400 from the Cardinals, according to Spotrac.
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The Home Run Derby featured a prize pool of $2.5 million. The winner received $1 million, the runner-up, Schwarber, received $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 villain role on Monday, as the vociferous Philadelphia crowd cheered as loudly for Schwarber’s home runs as it did for Walker’s mishaps during the final.
“I was once told you don’t boo nobody,” Walker said on the field as he received his trophy, according to MLB.com. “So it feels pretty 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 yard on just six of his first 12 swings, but he proceeded to blast six in a row to send the 43,863 Phillies fans home disappointed.
“I can’t even describe how it means to win it,” Walker said, voice hoarse in the moments following his victory. “It was a lot of swings, a lot of pressure, but I think I just had fun no matter what. Like, every round, I was having a good time.”
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Despite being on the receiving end of a lot of boos from the Philadelphia crowd, Walker did appreciate their love for their players.
“My thought was, ‘Philly is brutal,’” Walker said. “I mean, honestly. But I think it’s pretty special because they love their players and that’s what you want from your home … I can’t hate them, because that’s their guy.”
Walker has emerged this year as a star for the Cardinals and earned his first All-Star Game nod. The Georgia native was one of the top prospects in the sport when he made his debut 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 111 games and hit .215 with six home runs.
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His struggles over the prior two seasons make his return to stellar play even more impressive. In 93 games this season, Walker has a .294 batting average with 22 home runs, and his 74 RBI lead the big leagues.
The 6-foot-6 right fielder’s presence in the lineup has helped buoy a young Cardinals team that has surpassed expectations this season. The Cardinals are 50-45, third in the NL Central and in the thick 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.
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