The Philadelphia Eagles made their presence felt at Citizens Bank Park on Monday night, turning out in support of the home crowd for the 2026 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby.
Cooper DeJean, Brandon Graham and Dom DiSandro - better known around Philadelphia as “Big Dom” - were all in the stands as the city packed the ballpark for a loud, high-energy night. The trio represented the midnight green side of the sports scene while Phillies fans hoped to see one of their own deliver a signature moment.
That hope centered on Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper. Harper’s night ended quickly in the opening round, where he managed eight home runs.
Schwarber, though, gave the crowd plenty to ride with. He powered his way through the bracket and posted 11 home runs on his 15 swings in the championship round, setting a big target for the final matchup.
But St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker had the last word.
The 24-year-old leaned into the moment by flipping his cap backward and taking the crowd’s boos in stride. Then he caught fire at the perfect time, homering on each of his final six swings and using the tournament’s continuation rule to slip past Schwarber, 12-11.
Walker’s surge earned him the $1 million prize and quieted the Philadelphia crowd on the way out. For the Phillies faithful, it was a rough ending. For the Eagles contingent, it was a reminder that the city’s sports worlds still overlap in a big way, with DeJean, Graham and Big Dom on hand for a crossover night before NFL training camps get going.
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The transition matters because Mailata is not just being asked to hold his usual standard, he is also adjusting to a new system built around a wide-zone run game. For a player who has already climbed so far in his NFL career, the learning curve has brought a fresh edge to camp, and Mailata has embraced it as a chance to feel challenged again while helping anchor whatever version of the Eagles offense comes next. [Read more 🡒]
