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St. Louis Cardinals star Jordan Walker beat the baseball lottery 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 from the Cardinals.
Walker homered in his final six at-bats of the night, and with his electrifying comeback that took out 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 earns $799,400 from the Cardinals, according to Spotrac.
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St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker competes in the MLB All-Star Home Run Derby on 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, received $500,000. The remaining six contestants 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 longest blast.
Walker played the role of villain on Monday, as the raucous Philadelphia crowd cheered as loudly for Schwarber’s home run as it did for Walker’s mishap during the final.
“I was once told you don’t boo nobody,” Walker said on the field when he received 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 tall order. It looked like Schwarber would win when Walker left the yard in just six of his first 12 swings, but he went on to blast six straight to send the 43,863 Phillies fans home disappointed.
“I can’t even describe what it means to win it,” Walker said hoarsely in the moments after his win. “It was a lot of ups and downs, a lot of pressure, but I think I just had fun no matter what. Like every round, I had a good time.”
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St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker celebrates after winning the MLB All-Star Home Run Derby on Monday in Philadelphia. (Matt Slocum/AP)
Despite receiving a lot of boos from the Philadelphia crowd, Walker appreciated 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 as a star for the Cardinals this year, earning 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.
But 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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St. Louis Cardinals’ Jordan Walker reacts after winning the MLB All-Star Home Run Derby on Monday in Philadelphia. (Matt Rourke/AP)
His struggles over the previous two seasons make his return to stardom all the more impressive. In 93 games this season, Walker has a .294 batting average with 22 home runs and his 74 RBI leads the major leagues.
The 6-foot-6 right fielder’s presence in the lineup has helped lift a young Cardinals team that has exceeded 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 PM ET Tuesday on FOX.
