Jordan Walker Earned More Money for MLB HR Derby Win Than His Entire Salary with Cardinals in 2026

Jordan Walker's thrilling victory in the 2026 Home Run Derby came with a huge financial perk.

The St. Louis Cardinals star earned a $1 million prize for his win on Monday, more than his entire 2026 salary from the MLB club.

The 24-year-old Walker has yet to reach arbitration, so his salary remains right around the league minimum. Next season will mark his first year of arbitration. He won't be eligible for free agency until after the 2029 campaign.

A first-time All-Star selection this year, Walker also decided to participate in the Derby. He was the first Cardinals player to take part in the home run contest since Albert Pujols in 2022.

Walker and Kyle Schwarber both hit 19 homers through the first two rounds, setting up a final-round showdown between the two. Schwarber, playing in front of his hometown crowd at Citizens Bank Park led off with 11 dingers.

Sitting at six homers with three swings remaining, Walker proceeded to hit six home runs on six consecutive swings to get the win and silence a Philadelphia crowd that was showering him with boos throughout the round.

MLB adopted new rules for this year's Derby, doing away with the clock in favor of swings. The final round afforded each competitor 15 swings, but you were also allowed to keep going on your final swing as long as you kept hitting a homer.

Walker was sitting on eight homers with one swing remaining, but he kept it going long enough to pull off the upset against the crowd favorite.

Despite boasting one of the richest talent pools of any team in MLB history, the Cardinals had never produced a Home Run Derby winner until Walker finally broke through for the franchise.