We are down to just two open spots in the 2026 Home Run Derby field with Bryce Harper set to compete in front of the hometown crowd in Philadelphia. <\/p>\n
Harper posted a video on Instagram<\/a> announcing his participation in the event. <\/p>\n There are now six confirmed participants<\/a> in the Home Run Derby. <\/p>\n 2026 Home Run Derby Participants<\/p>\n This will be Harper’s third career appearance in the Derby. He made his debut in the event during the 2013 season, losing to Yoenis C\u00e9spedes in the final round. <\/p>\n After a four-year absence, Harper returned to the field in 2018 also as the hometown representative when the All-Star festivities were held at Nationals Park. He went on to win by beating his now-teammate Kyle Schwarber in the finals. <\/p>\n The 2018 event featured one of the best finishes in Derby history when Harper tied Schwarber with his 18th homer of the round as time expired in regulation. <\/p>\n Since Harper also earned the 30-second bonus, he defeated Schwarber with his 19th blast with 16 seconds remaining in the extra period. <\/p>\n MLB adjusted<\/a> the Derby format for this year, doing away with the clock and giving players a set number of swings in each round. Each swing counts against the hitter’s total, regardless of whether or not it is a home run. <\/p>\n Players can earn bonus swings if their final swing in the original allotment is a home run, but the first non-homer in the bonus ends the round. <\/p>\n Harper is looking to become the fifth player to win at least two Home Run Derby titles since the event was introduced in 1985. C\u00e9spedes, Ken Griffey Jr., Prince Fielder and Pete Alonso are the only multi-time winners. <\/p>\n There could also be a home-field advantage for Harper since this year’s All-Star festivities are being held at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. He was named to the NL roster for the Midsummer Classic as a Legend Pick<\/a> by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred. <\/p>\n Harper is hitting .264\/.371\/.509 with 20 homers in 93 games for the Phillies entering play on Thursday. <\/p>\n