The Odyssey of Willson Contreras in a repaired, electric Home Run Derby

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 13: Willson Contreras #40 of the Boston Red Sox competes during the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images The main takeaway of this year’s Home Run Derby: The new format gives plaers 20 swings in the first round and 15 thereafter, unless the final swing results in a homer, in which it can continue to infinite swings. Minus a Stanley Kubrick- or David Fincher-type possessing the skills of Kenny Lofton, this is an ideal scenario.

You don’t need to take my word for it though. They wanna hit and tonight, the proof was in the pudding. This derby was fun to start to finish.

Willson Contreras didn’t win but he was the perfect heel.The secondary takeaway: MLB spent money on this, at least by their standards. Barry Bonds, Will Ferrell, Michael Buffer, more.

They wanted people to watch, and they put on a show. Round 1: Willson leads off, beats everyone’s booties en route to Round 2Willson was booed lustily when he was introduced, which is the Philly way of saying “I love you,” so the vibes were good. They also famously love brawlers, and, well, Willson is one.

And hoooo boy, did he seem like he was at home. He was the first person to hit, and holy smokes did he deliver, hitting not just 13 homers on 20 swings in, but hitting bombs in between laser shots to the corners. Since it was a new format, he was able to milk the clock very nicely, a very smart move, before his last ball.

He took four pitches, building drama, before flying off the wall in deep left center. It ruled.So then Jordan Walker of the Cardinals came up, and hit 13.

Which still seemed amazing, but was it the players, or the format? The answer: The players! He was on one!

Jac Caglianone hit 8 taking pitches from his dad — which, I mean, is a better than winning the thing, it’s the best day of your life, but you ain’t gonna win — and after an incredible middle section he faded