Latest news with #Schwarbombs


San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
How many Schwarbombs can Kyle Schwarber hit? 50? 60? Phillies slugger on-team record HR pace
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ryan Howard hit home runs as far and as fast as any slugger of his era. He's still the only player to sock one completely into the third deck in 22 years of Citizens Bank Park — and he did it twice. So how about it, Ryan. Who would win in a home run derby in their primes between two of the best Phillies to ever launch 'em over the fence? Howard — the only Phillie to top 50 homers in a season, when he totaled 58 in 2006 — or current sensation Kyle Schwarber? Schwarber leads the National League with 40 homers, and No. 40 came in style, a grand slam as he dug in to roaring 'MVP! MVP!' chants. 'It'd be a tight one,' Howard said. 'Young Howie put some balls in the seats. Schwarbs is nothing to sneeze at.' Schwarber's 40 homers this season put him well ahead of the pace to best his career-high of 47 set in 2023, one better than the 46 he hit in 2022 in the first season of a four-year, $79 million free-agent contract. Howard's team mark of 58 remains in play if Schwarber keeps scorching balls like he has since he won All-Star Game MVP honors after he hit three homers in the game's first-ever swing-off. Schwarber has 10 homers — dubbed Schwarbombs that have made him arguably the most popular franchise star — since the break for the Phillies, who lead the NL East as they get set to open a 10-game road trip on Friday in Texas. Howard hit 198 homers from 2006 to 2009 and helped the Phillies win the 2008 World Series before his career was cut short by injury. It's the ring he treasures most these days. But he looks back now in admiration of his record 2006 season, a feat he didn't necessarily enjoy as much in real time, just as he expected Schwarber to do of this season well after retirement. 'I think he'll look back and one day say, 'I hit 50 home runs, and have no clue how I did,'' Howard said. Howard might be on to something. Schwarber indeed says he has no clue why his home run total has been going, going, gone through the roof at this point of the season. 'You go into every year in the offseason and you try and find ways to keep getting better,' he said. 'It's not like I went into the offseason saying I want to try and hit more home runs or anything like that. I think it's just trying to be consistent with what you're doing. The more consistency you can find in your swing and in your work, I think that will lead to results on the field.' His results are a key reason why the Phillies are on track to make the playoffs for the fourth straight season. He hit 40 homers in the Phillies' first 112 games — one more than Howard over the first 112 games of 2006. His .965 OPS is third in baseball and he leads baseball with 94 RBIs. Schwarber has played every game this season, almost exclusively as the designated hitter. Perhaps no moment so far this season has been as automatic an entry into the season highlight video as his game Monday against Baltimore. Schwarber had already connected on a two-run home run deep in the second deck. The crowd of 41,099 fans were in a Schwarbomb frenzy when he came to the plate in the sixth. He heard the MVP chants as he sent one into the right-center seats off Yaramil Hiraldo for his ninth career grand slam and second of the season. 'Those are the moments that you take in as a player,' Schwarber said. 'Those are special things that happen and that kind of just go in the back of the memory. Hold on to those things for a while. It was obviously a really cool thing and I appreciate it.' Schwarber's production raises two pivotal questions down the stretch; Can a designated hitter in the National League not named Shohei Ohtani win MVP and just how much of the bank will Schwarber break when the impending free agent signs his new deal? Schwarber and the Phillies failed to reach a deal ahead of the season and contract talks were tabled until after the season. Phillies managing partner John Middleton has remained steadfast in his commitment to wanting Schwarber back. 'We need no motivation whatsoever when it comes to Kyle Schwarber,' Middleton said in July. 'He's great. We thought he was great when we signed him years ago. We thought he was great consistently through the years. There's nothing Kyle does that surprises us." Schwarber could command a new deal that would place him among the highest-paid players in the game. Fair enough, perhaps, for what's he accomplished over his four seasons in Philadelphia. But can a player who turns 33 ahead of next season really be counted on to club 40-plus homers a season deep into his 30s without adding any defensive value? Maybe if that player wins an MVP (oh, and a World Series). Ohtani last season became the first primary designated hitter and first player who didn't appear defensively for a single inning to win an MVP. The Los Angeles Dodgers star remained the favorite in 2025 to win another one, with Schwarber a distant second, per BetMGM Sportsbook. But hitting 50 homers — do we hear 60? — is still very much in play for Schwarber even if he's not sure how he's doing it. 'Sometimes it's just one of those things where you're just in it,' Howard said, 'and it just happens.' ___


NBC Sports
5 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
How many Schwarbombs can Kyle Schwarber hit? 50? 60? Phillies slugger on-team record HR pace
PHILADELPHIA — Ryan Howard hit home runs as far and as fast as any slugger of his era. He's still the only player to sock one completely into the third deck in 22 years of Citizens Bank Park — and he did it twice. So how about it, Ryan. Who would win in a home run derby in their primes between two of the best Phillies to ever launch 'em over the fence? Howard — the only Phillie to top 50 homers in a season, when he totaled 58 in 2006 — or current sensation Kyle Schwarber? Schwarber leads the National League with 40 homers, and No. 40 came in style, a grand slam as he dug in to roaring 'MVP! MVP!' chants. 'It'd be a tight one,' Howard said. 'Young Howie put some balls in the seats. Schwarbs is nothing to sneeze at.' Schwarber's 40 homers this season put him well ahead of the pace to best his career-high of 47 set in 2023, one better than the 46 he hit in 2022 in the first season of a four-year, $79 million free-agent contract. Howard's team mark of 58 remains in play if Schwarber keeps scorching balls like he has since he won All-Star Game MVP honors after he hit three homers in the game's first-ever swing-off. Schwarber has 10 homers — dubbed Schwarbombs that have made him arguably the most popular franchise star — since the break for the Phillies, who lead the NL East as they get set to open a 10-game road trip in Texas. Howard hit 198 homers from 2006 to 2009 and helped the Phillies win the 2008 World Series before his career was cut short by injury. It's the ring he treasures most these days. But he looks back now in admiration of his record 2006 season, a feat he didn't necessarily enjoy as much in real time, just as he expected Schwarber to do of this season well after retirement. 'I think he'll look back and one day say, 'I hit 50 home runs, and have no clue how I did,'' Howard said. Howard might be on to something. Schwarber indeed says he has no clue why his home run total has been going, going, gone through the roof at this point of the season. 'You go into every year in the offseason and you try and find ways to keep getting better,' he said. 'It's not like I went into the offseason saying I want to try and hit more home runs or anything like that. I think it's just trying to be consistent with what you're doing. The more consistency you can find in your swing and in your work, I think that will lead to results on the field.' His results are a key reason why the Phillies are on track to make the playoffs for the fourth straight season. He hit 40 homers in the Phillies' first 112 games — one more than Howard over the first 112 games of 2006. His .965 OPS is third in baseball and he leads baseball with 94 RBIs. Schwarber has played every game this season, almost exclusively as the designated hitter. Perhaps no moment so far this season has been as automatic an entry into the season highlight video as his game against Baltimore. Schwarber already had connected on a two-run home run deep in the second deck. The crowd of 41,099 fans were in a Schwarbomb frenzy when he came to the plate in the sixth. He heard the MVP chants as he sent one into the right-center seats off Yaramil Hiraldo for his ninth career grand slam and second of the season. 'Those are the moments that you take in as a player,' Schwarber said. 'Those are special things that happen and that kind of just go in the back of the memory. Hold on to those things for a while. It was obviously a really cool thing and I appreciate it.' Schwarber's production raises two pivotal questions down the stretch; Can a designated hitter in the National League not named Shohei Ohtani win MVP and just how much of the bank will Schwarber break when the impending free agent signs his new deal? Schwarber and the Phillies failed to reach a deal ahead of the season and contract talks were tabled until after the season. Phillies managing partner John Middleton has remained steadfast in his commitment to wanting Schwarber back. 'We need no motivation whatsoever when it comes to Kyle Schwarber,' Middleton said in July. 'He's great. We thought he was great when we signed him years ago. We thought he was great consistently through the years. There's nothing Kyle does that surprises us.' Schwarber could command a new deal that would place him among the highest-paid players in the game. Fair enough, perhaps, for what's he accomplished over his four seasons in Philadelphia. But can a player who turns 33 ahead of next season really be counted on to club 40-plus homers a season deep into his 30s without adding any defensive value? Maybe if that player wins an MVP (oh, and a World Series). Ohtani last season became the first primary designated hitter and first player who didn't appear defensively for a single inning to win an MVP. The Los Angeles Dodgers star remained the favorite in 2025 to win another one, with Schwarber a distant second, per BetMGM Sportsbook. But hitting 50 homers — do we hear 60? — is still very much in play for Schwarber even if he's not sure how he's doing it. 'Sometimes it's just one of those things where you're just in it,' Howard said, 'and it just happens.'


Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
How many Schwarbombs can Kyle Schwarber hit? 50? 60? Phillies slugger on-team record HR pace
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ryan Howard hit home runs as far and as fast as any slugger of his era. He's still the only player to sock one completely into the third deck in 22 years of Citizens Bank Park — and he did it twice. So how about it, Ryan. Who would win in a home run derby in their primes between two of the best Phillies to ever launch 'em over the fence? Howard — the only Phillie to top 50 homers in a season, when he totaled 58 in 2006 — or current sensation Kyle Schwarber? Schwarber leads the National League with 40 homers, and No. 40 came in style, a grand slam as he dug in to roaring 'MVP! MVP!' chants. 'It'd be a tight one,' Howard said. 'Young Howie put some balls in the seats. Schwarbs is nothing to sneeze at.' Schwarber's 40 homers this season put him well ahead of the pace to best his career-high of 47 set in 2023, one better than the 46 he hit in 2022 in the first season of a four-year, $79 million free-agent contract. Howard's team mark of 58 remains in play if Schwarber keeps scorching balls like he has since he won All-Star Game MVP honors after he hit three homers in the game's first-ever swing-off. Schwarber has 10 homers — dubbed Schwarbombs that have made him arguably the most popular franchise star — since the break for the Phillies, who lead the NL East as they get set to open a 10-game road trip on Friday in Texas. Howard hit 198 homers from 2006 to 2009 and helped the Phillies win the 2008 World Series before his career was cut short by injury. It's the ring he treasures most these days. But he looks back now in admiration of his record 2006 season, a feat he didn't necessarily enjoy as much in real time, just as he expected Schwarber to do of this season well after retirement. 'I think he'll look back and one day say, 'I hit 50 home runs, and have no clue how I did,'' Howard said. Howard might be on to something. Schwarber indeed says he has no clue why his home run total has been going, going, gone through the roof at this point of the season. 'You go into every year in the offseason and you try and find ways to keep getting better,' he said. 'It's not like I went into the offseason saying I want to try and hit more home runs or anything like that. I think it's just trying to be consistent with what you're doing. The more consistency you can find in your swing and in your work, I think that will lead to results on the field.' His results are a key reason why the Phillies are on track to make the playoffs for the fourth straight season. He hit 40 homers in the Phillies' first 112 games — one more than Howard over the first 112 games of 2006. His .965 OPS is third in baseball and he leads baseball with 94 RBIs. Schwarber has played every game this season, almost exclusively as the designated hitter. Perhaps no moment so far this season has been as automatic an entry into the season highlight video as his game Monday against Baltimore. Schwarber had already connected on a two-run home run deep in the second deck. The crowd of 41,099 fans were in a Schwarbomb frenzy when he came to the plate in the sixth. He heard the MVP chants as he sent one into the right-center seats off Yaramil Hiraldo for his ninth career grand slam and second of the season. 'Those are the moments that you take in as a player,' Schwarber said. 'Those are special things that happen and that kind of just go in the back of the memory. Hold on to those things for a while. It was obviously a really cool thing and I appreciate it.' Schwarber's production raises two pivotal questions down the stretch; Can a designated hitter in the National League not named Shohei Ohtani win MVP and just how much of the bank will Schwarber break when the impending free agent signs his new deal? Schwarber and the Phillies failed to reach a deal ahead of the season and contract talks were tabled until after the season. Phillies managing partner John Middleton has remained steadfast in his commitment to wanting Schwarber back. 'We need no motivation whatsoever when it comes to Kyle Schwarber,' Middleton said in July. 'He's great. We thought he was great when we signed him years ago. We thought he was great consistently through the years. There's nothing Kyle does that surprises us.' Schwarber could command a new deal that would place him among the highest-paid players in the game. Fair enough, perhaps, for what's he accomplished over his four seasons in Philadelphia. But can a player who turns 33 ahead of next season really be counted on to club 40-plus homers a season deep into his 30s without adding any defensive value? Maybe if that player wins an MVP (oh, and a World Series). Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Ohtani last season became the first primary designated hitter and first player who didn't appear defensively for a single inning to win an MVP. The Los Angeles Dodgers star remained the favorite in 2025 to win another one, with Schwarber a distant second, per BetMGM Sportsbook. But hitting 50 homers — do we hear 60? — is still very much in play for Schwarber even if he's not sure how he's doing it. 'Sometimes it's just one of those things where you're just in it,' Howard said, 'and it just happens.' ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Phillies' Bryce Harper Shows Support for.Potential Kyle Schwarber Extension
The Phillies' franchise star wants to keep another left-handed power bat in the lineup for years to come. Slugger Kyle Schwarber is in the final season of a four-year contract he signed with Philadelphia in 2022. He's been a monster at the plate throughout his tenure, and that continued with a two homer game in Cleveland on Sunday. Advertisement When speaking about Schwarber recently, Harper made it clear where he stands on offering him an extension - and where Phillies leadership apparently agrees. "I don't want him to go anywhere else," Harper told Todd Zolecki. "That's not me saying anything to ownership or Dave (Dombrowski). Obviously, they want him too. And I think he wants to be here. I think he likes the community. He likes where he lives." After three seasons together, Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber have recently lined up back-to-back in the lineup. It's worked very well for the latter, who is off to arguably the hottest start in his entire Streicher-Imagn Images Schwarber has been on a tear to begin 2025, with 14 home runs, 32 RBI, a .997 OPS, and some ridiculous splits against left-handed pitching. Compared to other deals signed the same year, such as Kris Bryant's disastrous contract with the Colorado Rockies, his $79 million price tag over four years has been an absolute bargain. Advertisement He's set to get more than that figure with his next deal - and Bryce is hopeful that it happens before Kyle hits free agency this fall. "It would be weird not to have him in our clubhouse," Harper said. "He's a guy that hits homers. He's a great clubhouse guy and a leader. I hope he doesn't get there. He's a guy that we can use for the next few years." 'A guy that hits homers' is an understatement for Schwarber - only Aaron Judge has more than the 145 (or 157 counting playoffs) Schwarbombs that have been launched since the start of 2022. The Phillies contending window is still open, and extending Schwarber could help keep it that way for longer. While it ultimately depends on what ownership is willing to spend, having the support of your MVP-caliber star is an important sign of which way they'll lean. Related: Phillies Linked to $313 Million Slugger Amid Red Sox Drama


Washington Post
01-04-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Phillies offense gets big hits late in home opener after Super Bowl champion Eagles are honored
PHILADELPHIA — Saquon Barkley and Brandon Graham raised the Lombardi Trophy after a pair of first pitches that had Philadelphia Phillies fans roaring in delight for the Super Bowl champions. The 2024 NL East champion Phillies needed a little emotional support in their home opener from the Eagles across the street when the hardest hits through six innings could be found in a Graham highlight reel. Trailing 1-0 against the Colorado Rockies with two runners on base in the seventh inning and two out, the Phillies put Graham on the big screen and he raised his arms exhorting the crowd to get loud. Edmundo Sosa delivered for the just-retired Graham. Sosa ripped a go-ahead, two-run double and Kyle Schwarber followed with a mammoth homer to center field to rally the Phillies to a 6-1 win on Monday. Like sliced ribeye steak and Cheez Whiz, there are few combinations in Philly that pair quite as well as a Super Bowl celebration and a Phillies home-opening win. The Eagles stars from this past season were a surprise for everyone, even the two Phillies asked to catch them. Outfielder Brandon Marsh already caught one ceremonial first pitch. Marsh hadn't been clued in as to who was on deck. Just the Eagles' career leader in regular-season games played in Graham and only the ninth 2,000-yard season rusher in NFL history in Barkley. 'I didn't even know we had two jefes coming out from the other side of the street,' Marsh said. 'That was pretty cool seeing those guys.' The celebration cooled when Colorado starter Germán Márquez struck out four and walked none over six scoreless innings. He did give up a hit to Alec Bohm and his torpedo bat . It was a whirlwind of late offense again for the Phillies — no torpedo necessary — who touched the Rockies' bullpen for all six runs in the rally. The late offense is a common theme already in Philadelphia's 3-1 start. Take the season opener against Washington: MacKenzie Gore recorded a career-high 13 strikeouts and allowed one hit in six shutout innings. Bryce Harper and Schwarber hit first-pitch homers off relievers to put Philadelphia up 2-1 in a 7-3 victory. Game 2, it was a five-run sixth inning in another win. In the finale against Washington, the Phillies trailed 5-0 in the ninth but loaded the bases with none out before losing 5-1. 'I'd like to get to the starters here pretty quick,' manager Rob Thomson said. 'It's anxious to come down to the end.' Trea Turner had the plate appearance of the game for the Phillies. Turner had missed the past two games with back spasms and was out of the starting lineup in the home opener. He pinch-hit in the seventh with a runner on and two outs against reliever Scott Alexander. Turner fell behind 0-2 before taking four straight balls to reach base. Sosa knocked in the go-ahead runs with his second double of the game. Schwarber then connected for his third homer of the season, a 434-foot drive — there's a reason his homers are called Schwarbombs — that made it 4-2. 'It's easy to kind of look at it and everyone be frustrated, shocked,' at the lack of offense, Schwarber said. 'But you've got that in the back of your heard knowing that we're capable of doing that. Keep the same mindset throughout the whole game.' Max Kepler and Nick Castellanos hit back-to-back homers in the eighth for a 6-1 lead. Phillies starter Cristopher Sánchez struck out seven over 5 1/3 innings and allowed Hunter Goodman's solo homer in the sixth. Four relievers combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings to preserve the win. Schwarber, Castellanos and Kepler delivered the decisive blows. Just don't forget to give an assist to the Eagles. 'You bring us the big guns there with Saquon and BG,' Schwarber said. 'Get them going even more. We rally late. We feel the energy and we want to keep the energy.' ___ AP MLB: