Contreras, Caglianone Join 4-Man Home Run Derby Field in Philadelphia

Q: Can Jac Caglianone's league-best homer distance finally break the Royals' long-standing Home Run Derby curse?

Yes—Caglianone has a real chance to end the Royals’ Home Run Derby drought, though he is not a clear favorite. The case for him starts with raw power. His 14 homers average 418 feet, tied for the best mark in the majors this season, and his 108.6 mph average home run exit velocity ranks near the top of the league. Nearly 79% of his home runs are classified as no-doubters, which matters in a Derby built on repeatable, effortless power rather than scraping balls over the wall. Citizens Bank Park also tends to reward right-handed power, and the new 2026 swing-based format could help a hitter like Caglianone conserve energy better than the old timed rounds. There are also practical advantages. His father, Jeff Caglianone, will pitch to him, giving him a familiar rhythm and comfort level. That can be significant in an event where timing with the pitcher often decides who advances. Still, the field is strong. Ben Rice has 26 homers, Junior Caminero has 24 and was the 2025 runner-up, and more entrants are still to come. Derby success is not always about season totals or longest average distance; it often comes down to pace, stamina, and getting hot for a few rounds. So Caglianone’s league-best homer distance does not guarantee a title, but it gives him one of the strongest power profiles in the event. For a franchise whose previous five Derby entrants all came up short, this may be Kansas City’s best shot yet.

3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jul 8

Willson Contreras and Jac Caglianone became the latest confirmed Home Run Derby entrants, expanding Monday's Philadelphia field to four with Ben Rice and Junior Caminero already in.
Contreras, 34, brings 20 homers in 306 at-bats and will try to become the first Red Sox winner since David Ortiz in 2010.
Caglianone, 23, has 14 homers this season—nine in June—and his 418-foot average home run distance is tied for the major-league lead among players with more than 10 homers.
The Royals outfielder was the No. 6 pick in the 2024 draft, was not selected as an All-Star, and will become the sixth Kansas City hitter to compete in the event.
Kansas City's recent Derby history includes Bobby Witt Jr.'s 2024 runner-up finish, when he totaled 50 homers and lost the final round by one to Teoscar Hernandez.