Major League Baseball became the target of conspiracy theories and claims it had rigged the 2026 Home Run Derby on Monday when a graphic on Netflix labeled Jordan Walker the winner before the event was even done.
The Netflix airing of the derby featured a graphic during the last round between Walker and Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber that labeled Walker as the “2026 T-Mobile Home Run Derby Champion.”
Naturally, that sent conspiracy-minded fans to social media to proclaim that the event was rigged.
Walker did win, of course, with a come-from-behind performance that surprised Schwarber, who looked like the winner right up until that last round.
Schwarber rocketed 11 of his first 15 swings and looked to be the odds-on favorite to win the derby. But by the time Walker stepped up in that final round, his six homers in a row were enough to top the Phillies star’s final count with 12 to Schwarber’s 11.
But with the mistaken graphic hitting the screen before the derby was actually finished, many a fan screamed that the whole thing was rigged.
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