MLB Home Run Derby pitchers 2026: Here's who will throw to each hitter, from Bryce Harper to Ben Rice

It's easy to forget just how much success in the Home Run Derby depends on pitching until the night actually arrives.

Watching a powerful hitter struggle to get ideal pitches to hit in the derby is a frustrating experience, and choosing the right pitcher has started to become something derby participants have prioritized in recent years.

While the new format, which allows players to ignore subpar pitches at no cost, should take some of the pressure off the pitchers, all eight players in this year's derby were strategic about their choice in some way.

Here's a look at who's pitching in the 2026 Home Run Derby.

MORE: Who will win the Home Run Derby?

Who is pitching at 2026 Home Run Derby?

Jeff Caglianone (Jac Caglianone)

Royals OF Jac Caglianone chose his father, Jeff, to be his Home Run Derby pitcher. Caglianone told MLB.com the opportunity is a "bucket list" item for him, explaining, "having my dad throw is a huge reason why I’m doing it in the first place."

Jeff Caglianone is a coach at H.B. Plant High School and has experience throwing batting practice for some notable players, including Plant alum Pete Alonso.

Tomas Francisco (Junior Caminero)

Rays field coordinator Tomas Francisco returns to the derby for the third time in four years, as he threw to Randy Arozarena in 2023 and was Junior Caminero's derby pitcher last year. After a strong showing from Caminero that saw him finish second, Francisco is going for the win this time.

When he's not throwing batting practice, Francisco works with Rays catchers on Kevin Cash's staff.

MORE: Does the Home Run Derby actually ruin players' swings?

Jose David Flores (Willson Contreras)

Willson Contreras is only in his first season with the Red Sox, but he's known his derby pitcher since he was in the minor leagues with the Cubs. Contreras chose Jose David Flores, who started the year as Boston's first base coach but took on the role of interim bench coach after manager Alex Cora and other coaches were fired.

"I’ve known Willson since he was a puppy," Flores told MLB.com. "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."

Dino Ebel (Bryce Harper)

Phillies 1B Bryce Harper said his participation was contingent on finding a pitcher because his dad, who threw to him when he won in 2018, hasn't thrown batting practice in a number of years. Enter Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel, who was the pitcher for Teoscar Hernandez's derby win in 2024. 

Ebel has never coached Harper at the MLB level, but he was on the Team USA staff at the World Baseball Classic and has a proven track record on this stage. Ebel has been Dave Roberts' third base coach since 2019, after 13 years on the Angels' staff under Mike Scioscia.

Luis Sierra (Munetaka Murakami)

White Sox pregame instructor Luis Sierra will throw to rookie 1B Munetaka Murakami, who is Chicago's regular batting practice pitcher. Sierra warmed up by serving as the pitcher for the White Sox Alumni Home Run Derby on Saturday, and Murakami will hope the familiarity pays off on Monday.

MORE: Ranking the 13 greatest Home Run Derby performances in history

Dan Rice (Ben Rice)

Yankees 1B Ben Rice joins Caglianone in keeping it in the family, as he chose his father, Dan, as his derby pitcher. Dan was a pitcher himself at Brown University in the 1980s, and Ben said he has been taking batting practice from his dad every offseason even as he climbed the ranks all the way to the majors.

"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," Rice told MLB.com.

Rafael Pena (Kyle Schwarber)

Schwarber is keeping it simple, as Phillies assistant hitting coach Rafael Pena is the team's regular batting practice pitcher. Rather than reinvent the wheel, Schwarber will stick with what works. "I’ve hit off him in the cage the last two years, and he makes the most sense," Schwarber told MLB.com.

Kleininger Teran (Jordan Walker)

Cardinals breakout star Jordan Walker chose the team's bullpen catcher, Kleininger Teran, to pitch in the Home Run Derby. 

"He throws it middle-in. He’s got really good accuracy," Walker told MLB.com. "We’ll see when it comes down to the Home Run Derby time, but that’s why we’re going to practice."

Teran spent six seasons in the Cardinals' minor league system from 2006-11 and threw to Albert Pujols in the 2022 derby.