Phillies' Kyle Schwarber Reveals Conditions to Participate in MLB HR Derby at Citizens Bank Park

Philadelphia Phillies star Kyle Schwarber told Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci he will participate in the 2026 Home Run Derby at his home ballpark if his health and the All-Star vote allow it.

"Yeah, if everything lines up, I'm there," Schwarber told Verducci. "If this back deal calms down, then I'll probably do it. But just gotta make sure, one, I'm there, and then two, that this back thing kind of calms down."

Schwarber has recently missed time due to back tightness.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani was named starting DH for the National League's All-Star team after leading the fan vote through Phase 1 of voting.

Schwarber could be named Ohtani's backup after Phase 2 of voting closes Thursday at noon ET. The full All-Star lineup will be revealed Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

The Home Run Derby is set to take place at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on July 13, one day before the 2026 MLB All-Star Game.

Schwarber's first scratch from his back issue took place just seven minutes before first pitch, when his lower back tightened on a practice swing last Tuesday, per NBC Sports Philadelphia's Cole Weintraub.

He returned to the lineup as a pinch hitter that Thursday and went on to hit a game-winning two-run homer in the ninth inning.

That home run, which took place in the Phillies' 84th game of the season, made Schwarber the fastest player in franchise history to record 30 home runs.

That isn't the only history Schwarber has made so far this season. He also recorded his fifth career three-homer game on June 20, tying him for the fourth most in MLB history.

Schwarber has never won the Home Run Derby, although he was named 2025 MLB All-Star Game MVP after leading the NL to victory by hitting three home runs on three tries during a tie-breaking swing-off.

Schwarber's best finish in the Home Run Derby came when he ended up as runner-up to Bryce Harper while representing the Chicago Cubs in 2018 at Nationals Park.

He last participated in the 2022 Home Run Derby, from which he was eliminated with a first-round loss to Albert Pujols.