Who's pitching to the Home Run Derby participants?

Eight of baseball's premier sluggers will compete in the 2026 T-Mobile Home Run Derby on Monday at Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park. You're probably familiar with their names -- from Kyle Schwarber to Junior Caminero to Munetaka Murakami.

But have you met the pitchers?

The Derby is a two-way street, and each contestant has the opportunity to choose their pitcher, whether it be a coach, a family member, or a friend. There's plenty of fun here, but also a whole lot of pressure, even in the swing-based format.

Here's a look at the eight Home Run Derby pitchers that we'll see in Philadelphia on Monday night.

Junior Caminero
Pitcher: Rays Major League field coordinator Tomas Francisco

Like Caminero, Francisco is out to win it all this time. He was Randy Arozarena's pitcher during their runner-up finish in 2023, and he was throwing to Caminero when he finished second to champion Cal Raleigh last year. Caminero immediately identified Francisco, a fourth-year coach on Kevin Cash’s staff who primarily works with Tampa Bay’s catchers, as his pitcher when he announced his return to the Derby.

Quote: “It’s time. Definitely, that’s the goal: to win it all. But any time you get to do that, spend that time there with all the stars in the Home Run Derby, you just enjoy the opportunity. It’s pretty sweet. Just being around those stars, all those players, being in the clubhouse with those guys, it’s just unbelievable. You never know when you’re going to have the opportunity again, so you embrace that moment.” -- Francisco

Ben Rice
Pitcher: Dad, Dan Rice

Whenever Ben Rice needed batting practice, he knew exactly whom to call. On chain-link fields across Massachusetts, Dan Rice would pile out of his car carrying a bucket of baseballs. It was a familiar routine that allowed them to spend time together while fine-tuning the youngster’s swing. Dan Rice was a pitcher on Brown University’s baseball team in the 1980s, returning to the mound decades later to groove fastballs and curves to his son. As Ben Rice said, “His lifetime pitch count is through the roof at this point.”

Quote: “My dad has always been there for me. Every offseason, I’m going back and making sure I get my BP in with my dad. He always went the extra mile; he’d drive an hour-plus or two hours from Cohasset, and we’d go hit at a local field to get our swings in for the day.” -- Ben Rice

Willson Contreras
Pitcher: Red Sox interim bench coach José David Flores

Flores started the season as Boston’s first base coach and infield instructor but moved to interim bench coach in late April after Chad Tracy was elevated to interim manager. Flores and Contreras go back all the way to their years together with the Cubs, starting their relationship in 2013 when Contreras was in the Minors. Contreras said Flores is one of the best BP pitchers “I’ve had in my life,” and especially appreciates the pace he keeps. Flores had planned to fly to Puerto Rico for the start of the All-Star break but he will postpone that trip until Tuesday morning so he can throw to Contreras.

Quote: “I’ve known Willson since he was a puppy. I’ll try to throw cookies and hopefully put them on the barrel and he gets into a good rhythm and it’s all about good rhythm. Seeing the success he's had this season both offensively and defensively makes me extremely proud, and hopefully, I’ll put him in a good position to succeed and be one of those finalists in the Derby.” -- Flores

Jac Caglianone
Pitcher: Dad, Jeff Caglianone

Jac’s main BP thrower in the offseason has always been his dad, Jeff, so there was no question who would throw to Jac when he was asked to participate in his first Derby. They both might be a little nervous ahead of time, but once they get into a rhythm, Jac said both will be just fine. And Jeff’s credentials as a BP thrower go far beyond his son: Other Plant High School alums from the Tampa area have said that they like Jeff’s BP… including two-time Derby champion Pete Alonso.

Quote: “Having my dad throw is a huge reason why I’m doing it in the first place, to be honest with you. That’s stuff we talked about growing up, like, ‘How cool would that be?’ He’s thrown to me my entire life. So when I got asked to do it, it’s like a bucket-list thing for both him and me. I think having that experience together will be like the most important thing I’ll get out of all of this.” -- Jac Caglianone

Jordan Walker
Pitcher: Cardinals bullpen catcher Kleininger Teran

While this marks the first Home Run Derby for Jordan Walker in the big leagues, that’s not the case for his pitcher, Kleininger Teran. The longtime bullpen catcher for the Cardinals threw to Albert Pujols in the 2022 Derby, helping guide him to the semifinals. Though Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol jokingly stood in the back of Walker’s media scrum Thursday wondering why he wasn’t selected to pitch to Walker, the slugger explained that he has seen batting practice pitching from Teran throughout the season. That familiarity was a key element to Walker's decision.

Quote: “He said he was going to be nervous. I was like, I’m probably going to be more nervous than you are, so don’t even worry about it. … It’s straight, he throws it middle-in. He’s got really good accuracy. We’ll see when it comes down to the Home Run Derby time, but that’s why we’re going to practice. But, yeah. I really like his BP and he’s the guy to take me there, and hopefully win it.” -- Walker

Bryce Harper
Pitcher: Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel

Harper’s father, Ron Harper, threw to him in 2018, when he won the Home Run Derby with the Nationals at Nationals Park. But Harper’s dad hasn’t thrown in a few years, so he needed to find somebody else. He wanted somebody he could trust. Ebel can throw a good BP. How does he know? They worked together at the World Baseball Classic. Ebel also grooved three pitches to Kyle Schwarber during the tie-breaking swing-off at the 2025 All-Star Game in Atlanta. Schwarber homered three times to win the game for the NL and win All-Star Game MVP honors.

Quote: “He’s pretty dang good at it. So, it’ll be fun. The tough part will be not being able to practice with him before the Derby. So, we’ll go into it a bit blind.” -- Harper

Kyle Schwarber
Pitcher: Phillies assistant hitting coach Rafael Pena.

Schwarber spends loads of time in the batting cage at Citizens Bank Park and elsewhere. He knows Pena can throw him pitches where he wants.

Quote: “I’ve hit off him in the cage the last two years, and he makes the most sense." -- Schwarber

Munetaka Murakami
Pitcher: White Sox Major League coach Luis Sierra

Sierra warmed up on Saturday by throwing to hitters in the first-ever White Sox Alumni Home Run Derby and regularly throws batting practice for the White Sox. Sierra also was on the mound for Luis Robert Jr. in the 2023 All-Star competition when Robert launched 28 home runs in the first round to beat Adley Rutschman. Murakami seemed to be a perfect fit for this event with 20 home runs over the first 57 games over his career, but a Grade 2 right hamstring strain and the ensuing recovery cost the first baseman 35 games. Now, the All-Star is healthy after returning to action on July 10 and ready to go.

Quote: "We knew it was a possibility. And we feel like it's a tremendous opportunity for the Chicago White Sox and Mune to show his abilities on a big stage." -- White Sox general manager Chris Getz.