Some things aren’t surprising. Sometimes, the good guys win. Kyle Schwarber is a good guy and now your NL Player of the Month for June.
‘No, June, you’re beautiful.’
– Walk the Line (2005)
A welcomed addition to the family
On and off the field, Schwarber’s living up to his four-year, $79MM deal. He’s embraced the city, and I think Philadelphia likes him too.
In 27 games and 122 plate appearances, Schwarber mashed twelve home runs and compiled an OPS of 1.065. Those aren’t good numbers; those are MVP-type numbers.
He’s solidified the leaf-off spot, something the Phillies have been searching for since the era of Jimmy Rollins, and essentially helped the Phillies finish June with a record of 19-8.
The ultimate fighter
Schwarber’s surprisingly done the most damage down 0-1 in the count. For the season, following a first-pitch strike, the former Washington Nationals has recorded fourteen of his twenty-three home runs.
When you back a hero into a corner, they perform and even astound.
Of the Phillies’ 43 homers in June, 3rd best in the National League, Kyle Schwarber was responsible for almost a third of them.
In the National League, only teammate Bryce Harper (1.096) and the Nationals Josh Bell (1.142) eclipsed Schwarber’s OPS. He also had the second-most walks (13) behind another Nat, Juan Soto.
His 27 RBIs & 27 runs led the NL and I can keep going, but that’s just how good the Phillies left-fielder played in the sixth month of the year.
This beefcake has proven the Phillies only need to wait for the notoriously slow-starter to begin feasting on opposing pitching.
The Phillies now have NL Pitcher/Player of the Month winners in back-to-back months for the first time since 2006 (Ryan Howard twice). That’s eating fresh.
Zack Wheeler, of course, received the Award for his 1.65 ERA and 40 strikeouts in May.
Cashing in on Kyle Schwarber
If you want to keep rolling with Kyle Schwarber in July, you can get him at +285 to homer against the St. Louis Cardinals this evening, and let’s be honest; you’ve wasted money on worse.
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan
