Netflix was a little too ready for Jordan Walker’s surprising 2026 Home Run Derby victory.
Walker was entering a highly entertaining last-round standoff in the Home Run Derby with Philadelphia hometown favorite Kyle Schwarber when MLB’s streaming broadcast partner declared that Walker had won.
This led to wild theories that somehow the event was “rigged,” as opposed to an error by the production team.
“MLB is rigged…They leaked that Jordan Walker was the 2026 MLB HR Derby winner,” one X user, @TruthZone, said.
Now, this would have been really strange if it had occurred during the opening of the Home Run Derby instead of the final round, as Walker was mostly an afterthought entering it, with just about no one expecting him to win
Walker is having a breakout 2026 season after a disappointing start to his career after he was MLB’s top prospect.
Walker tied for the lead in round one with 13 home runs and then eliminated Rays star Junior Caminero in the semifinals.
When Schwarber put up 11 home runs in his first 15 swings in the finals, it appeared we were heading toward a hometown celebration before Walker went on a wild hot streak to win it in the final.
Schwarber’s Phillies teammates, including Bryce Harper, watched silently as Walker hit six consecutive home runs while down to his last out to win the Home Run Derby.
Still, fans viewed the graphic skeptically.
“MLB script leaked mid home run derby. S–ts so fake man,” another fan tweeted.
The graphic wasn’t the only problem fans had with Netflix broadcasting the event, as they were also annoyed with the streaming giant bringing on comedian Will Ferrell to commentate a bit.
Walker started his career with three wildly disappointing seasons but this year has 22 home runs and is batting .292 average while leading the big leagues in RBIs with 74.
