The Philadelphia Phillies are preparing to host MLB's All-Star festivities in July, though the event that may stand out as the most memorable when all is said and done is the Home Run Derby. At least, it will if the Phillies' star players decide to suit up for it.
It's not terribly common for a pair of teammates to compete in the same Home Run Derby. The last time it happened was 2018, when Kyle Schwarber and Javier Báez, then of the Chicago Cubs, both entered the field (Schwarber wound up losing to Bryce Harper in the finals).
It's also not an event the organization frequently participates in. The last Phillies player to compete in the Derby was Alec Bohm in 2024 (eliminated in the semi-finals), and Schwarber is the only other player to compete this decade (2022). The team also hasn't had a winner since 2005-06, when Bobby Abreu and Ryan Howard won back-to-back titles.
However, with Citizens Bank Park hosting its first-ever All-Star Week (and the Phillies hosting their first since 1996), it feels only right for the faces of the franchise to lace 'em up and try to reprise that legendary 2018 final.
2026 Home Run Derby new rules could be perfect for Phillies' Schwarber, Harper
By every possible metric, Schwarber and Harper have been the Phillies' best hitters this season. For our purposes, home runs (29 and 17, respectively) are all that matter, but their respective wRC+ figures (162 and 143) should make them locks to represent the hometown team in the Midsummer Classic.
Those homer totals are good enough to land Schwarber first in the league and Harper in a six-way tie for 17th, though the latter is just two long balls away from busting into the top 10. Even if Philadelphia wasn't playing host, they'd be legitimate candidates to compete in the Derby, especially given their history with the event.
It also just so happens that the league has once again changed the rules that govern the HR Derby, finally removing the timer that has been in place since 2015. Instead, an old-school format is back, as players will get 20 swings in Round 1, 15 swings in Round 2, and 15 swings in Round 3 (though a player will remain on their final swing of any round until they don't hit a home run).
That format is conducive to a longer event, to be sure, but also bigger home run totals. Players can now take a more measured approach to their big hacks rather than forcing an all-out assault for four minutes.
It's true that the 2018 final came during the timer era, so it's not as if Schwarber or Harper need the extra time to watch pitches and rest. But it'd also make for tremendous long-ball theater if the two enter a title-deciding swing-off in front of their home crowd.
At the very least, it'd be a heck of a lot of fun if one of them became first player to defend their home turf in the Derby since Harper did so eight years ago.
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