2026 Home Run Derby Power Rankings: Give Me a Philly Slugger... But Don't Sleep on Ben Rice

Tonight is one of my favorite nights on the baseball calendar.

There's just something about the Home Run Derby. No pressure of wins and losses. No bullpen decisions. Just eight dudes trying to hit baseballs into another zip code. This year feels even bigger with the Derby making its Netflix debut from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. New platform, new format, and a stacked field. Sign me up.

With MLB going back to a swing-based format instead of the timed rounds, every swing matters. You can't just swing out of your shoes and hope volume wins the day anymore.

Efficiency is going to separate the champion from everyone else.

Here's how I'd rank tonight's field.

1. Kyle Schwarber (Phillies)

If I'm putting money on anybody, it's Kyle Schwarber. He's built for this event. Nobody in baseball consistently hits baseballs as violently as Schwarber does, and now he gets to do it in front of his home crowd. You know Citizens Bank Park is going to erupt every time he launches one into the upper deck. The swing count format also works in his favor because he doesn't waste many hacks. If a Phillie is winning tonight, I think it's Schwarber.

2. Bryce Harper (Phillies)

How cool would it be if Harper won the Derby in Philadelphia? The place would absolutely lose its mind. Harper has the star power, the raw strength, and he knows every inch of that ballpark. Between him and Schwarber, I honestly think the trophy is staying in Philly.

3. Ben Rice (Yankees)

This is my sleeper.

I think Ben Rice is going to surprise a lot of people tonight. Everyone keeps talking about Schwarber, Harper, and Junior Caminero, but Rice has quietly become one of the best power hitters in baseball this season. Yankees fans already know what kind of pop he has, but tonight feels like the night the rest of the baseball world finds out. Don't be shocked if he makes a deep run or even finds himself in the finals. He's the value pick that nobody wants to see once he gets hot.

4. Junior Caminero (Rays)

Last year's runner-up is back, and for good reason. Caminero has effortless power and can go on ridiculous streaks where every swing seems to leave the yard. If he catches fire early, he could absolutely win the whole thing.

5. Jac Caglianone (Royals)

This guy might have the most raw power in the entire field. The only question is whether the Derby format catches up to him. Sometimes the biggest hitters try to hit every ball 500 feet instead of just stacking home runs. If he stays under control, look out.

6. Jordan Walker (Cardinals)

Walker has as much upside as almost anyone in this competition. He's one of those guys who can accidentally hit a ball 470 feet. If the bracket breaks his way, don't rule him out.

7. Munetaka Murakami (White Sox)

Murakami has been crushing baseballs since arriving from Japan, and his power is absolutely legitimate. The adjustment won't be the power—it's getting comfortable in the Derby environment. If he settles in quickly, he could climb much higher than I've got him ranked.

8. Willson Contreras (Cardinals)

Someone has to be eighth, and that's Contreras for me. He's had a great season, but compared to the rest of this field, I think he'll have a tougher time matching the sheer home run pace needed to survive.

My official prediction?

Give me one of the Phillies.

The baseball gods love a good storyline, and having the Home Run Derby in Philadelphia with both Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber in the field just feels too perfect. I think one of them is walking away with the trophy in front of a sold-out Citizens Bank Park.

But if there's one guy I'm buying stock in tonight, it's Ben Rice.

I have a feeling Yankees fans are going to be talking about him a whole lot more after this Derby is over.