Will Kyle Schwarber be joining Bryce Harper for the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby in front of a home crowd at Citizens Bank Park on July 13?
Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly appeared to have leaked that the MLB home run leader’s plans to participate in the event following the Phillies’ 1-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds on July 9.
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“I’m glad he’s doing it, especially in Philly. Him and Kyle both, right?” Mattingly said when asked by a reporter about his thoughts on Harper participating in the Home Run Derby.
2026 MLB Home Run Derby field: Who is competing in Philly? Who isn’t?
Based on Mattingly’s reaction that followed, it appears he jumped the gun a bit: Schwarber has not announced whether he is adding the Home Run Derby to his All-Star Game schedule. Mattingly tried to backtrack his original statement by the time the next question was asked in Great American Ballpark.
“Not sure on Kyle yet? OK, I thought Kyle was going to do it,” Mattingly said. “Maybe he’s waiting to make sure everything’s good.”
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Should Schwarber participate in the Home Run Derby, it will not only give the event another marquee name in the field, but also will mark his first time in the event since 2022. He first competed in the Home Run Derby in 2018 as a member of the Chicago Cubs, where he proceeded to lose to Harper in the finals at Nationals Park.
The field currently includes Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero, New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice, Kansas City Royals first baseman Jac Caglianone, Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras and St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker.
Schwarber has commented within the last week that he has an interest in competing if his back is feeling OK. He continues to deal with a sore lower back that kept him out for two games in June. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber reported on July 10 that, should Schwarber take one of the final two spots in the field, a Phillies coach or staffer will throw to him.
“I just want to make sure I’m not putting myself in a risky position,” Schwarber said, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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The Phillies’ designated hitter enters the final weekend of the first half of the season with 32 home runs and 58 RBIs, becoming the fastest Phillies hitter to reach 30 home runs on the season — in just 80 games — on Sunday, June 28. He reached the milestone with a go-ahead, two-run home run against the New York Mets at Citi Field.
“It’s just been fun to watch,” Mattingly said of Schwarber in June when asked by USA TODAY Sports about his power hitter’s season during a media availability. “There’s been a lot of big ones that either get us early leads or get us back in the game.
“What I really like is that Schwabs is really all about the team and us winning and I think when you stay in that mode of doing something to help your team win. From a leadership position, that’s huge because then everybody’s in that mode.”
The MLB Home Run Derby is set for 8 p.m. ET on Monday, July 13 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Did Don Mattingly leak Kyle Schwarber’s Home Run Derby plans?
