Jordan Walker Won the Home Run Derby Then Barely Played in the All-Star Game. He’s Still Having a Monster Year.

The All-Star Game is over, the American League shut out the National League 4-0, and the most interesting thing about the midsummer classic might have been what happened before it even started. St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker, the 24-year-old who just won the Home Run Derby in dramatic fashion, got exactly one at-bat in the actual game. He didn’t get a hit. He didn’t draw a walk. He struck out.

That’s not the kind of showcase any player dreams of. But Walker walked out of the break with a million-dollar smile anyway.

The Derby Run Nobody Saw Coming

Walker’s Home Run Derby victory was legitimately wild. He went into the final round against Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber, who looked like the favorite after mashing his way through the bracket. But Walker rattled off four straight home runs on his final swing attempts to beat Schwarber 12-11. That’s not just a win. That’s a walk-off moment in a timed competition.

The prize for that? A cool $1 million. And for a guy playing the 2026 season on a rookie deal worth $799,400, that extra cash is life-changing. He basically doubled his salary in one night of batting practice heroics.

From Bust to Breakout

Walker’s first three seasons in the majors were rough. He was one of those hyper-hyped prospects, the kind scouts write novels about, and for a long time it just wasn’t clicking. The average was low. The power was inconsistent. People started whispering the dreaded word: bust.

But 2026 has been different. Really different. Through 357 at-bats, Walker has 105 hits, 22 home runs, and a league-leading 74 RBIs. He’s hitting .294 with a .354 on-base percentage, both of which would be career highs. His exit velocities are up. His chase rate is down. He looks like the guy everyone thought he was going to be.

The All-Star Game didn’t give him a chance to show any of that off. One plate appearance, one out, done. But that’s the thing about the All-Star Game — it’s more of a trophy case than a proving ground. Walker already got his trophy. And if he keeps hitting like this, the real prize comes later.

He’s headed for a massive payday. Arbitration. Free agency. Whatever comes next, the numbers are going to be big. The Cardinals have to know that. Walker knows that. For now, though, he’s got $1 million in his pocket and 74 RBIs on the board. Not a bad spot to be in.