Yesterday, Kyle Schwarber hit what would be the game-winning home run, a solo shot, to help the Philadelphia Phillies claim a series victory over the Miami Marlins. Today, Schwarber reached 10 years of service time in Major League Baseball.
Schwarber is one of a small circle, approximately 7%, of Major League players to reach that milestone. He is the sixth player on the Phillies’ active roster to do so, joining Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler, Nick Castellanos, Taijuan Walker, and J.T. Realmuto.
A promising career lifts off
Kyle Schwarber was drafted by the Chicago Cubs with the fourth overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft. The highest draft pick in Indiana baseball history, the two-time All-American hit a career .344 batting average, 1.047 OPS, and 39 home runs over 174 games played in three years.
Drafted as a catcher, Schwarber’s offensive capabilities were clear when the Cubs drafted him.
“Schwarber just kept coming up with big hits,” said Stan Zielinksi, the Cubs scout responsible for drafting Schwarber in 2014. “He was able to control the zone and recognize pitches. It was pretty impressive. His sophomore year, it became apparent he had an advanced approach and had really figured it out.”
Zielinski, a scout of 38 years for the Cubs, passed away in 2017. He was 64-years old at the time.
Just over a year after being drafted, Schwarber made his Major League debut for the Cubs on June 16, 2015. Schwarber entered the game late as substitution for catcher Miguel Montero, who was ejected from the contest. Schwarber struck out in his lone at bat.
Over the next month-and-a-half of baseball, Schwarber quickly made a name for himself, batting .342 in his first 25 games while hitting six home runs.
The issue the Cubs sought to fix was Schwarber’s vulnerabilities as a catcher behind the plate. His receiving skills and throwing mechanics left a lot to be desired behind the plate dating back to his time in Indiana.
So, the Cubs decided to shift Schwarber to left field. Over his final 44 games of the 2015 season, Schwarber caught just five of them, getting a majority of his starts in left field with some right field and designated hitter mixed in. Since the start of the 2016 season, Schwarber has only put on the catcher’s gear for five games, the most recent being one inning in 2019.
Injuries, World Champions, and New Surroundings
The 2016 season was a significant one for Schwarber. Entering his sophomore season, Schwarber and the Cubs were ready to make a splash. Schwarber’s role, however, took a bad turn quickly into the season. On April 7, the left fielder collided with center fielder Dexter Fowler, fully tearing both his ACL and LCL in his left knee in the process.
The devastating injury took Schwarber out for the remainder of the 2016 season. He did, however, make a recovery in time play in the World Series against the Cleveland Guardians. Schwarber went 7-for-17 on the season, scoring two runs and two RBI to help the Cubs finally put an end to the Curse of Billy the Goat.
Schwarber remained with the Cubs through the shortened 2020 season. Schwarber hit 30+ home runs on two separate occasions, hitting for a .230 average and an .816 OPS over his six seasons with the club.
Then, on December 2, 2020, the Cubs non-tendered Schwarber. The midwestern slugger turned Cubs star suddenly found himself a free agent.
A month later, Schwarber found himself on a new team, the Washington Nationals, on a one-year contract. The slugger performed well for the Nationals, hitting 25 home runs and representing the club in the All-Star game.
Weeks later, his new team of seven months decided to pull the cord. On July 29, the Boston Red Sox acquired Schwarber from the Nationals for minor leaguer Aldo Ramirez.
A new chapter in the City of Brotherly Love
Fast forward to March 2022 and Spring Training has just begun across Major League Baseball. Schwarber was set to fill in some time between left field and designated hitter for the Phillies.
Schwarber’s first two years with the Phillies found him acting as the starting left fielder, especially as Bryce Harper recovered from Tommy John surgery and could only serve as a designated hitter. Since Harper’s return and move to first base, Schwarber has primarily served as the Phillies’ designated hitter.
His 2022 campaign found him leading the National League with 46 home runs, earning both an All-Star nod and the Silver Slugger.
Just a month ago, Schwarber slugged his 300th career home run, a 466-foot rocket against the Colorado Rockies.
Whether it’s batting clean-up or leadoff, Schwarber has become a staple in the Phillies’ lineup. He has the 15th-most home runs in Phillies history, just seven behind Bryce Harper at 154.
What is next for Schwarber?
Schwarber’s four-year, $79 million contract with the Phillies will reach it’s conclusion this offseason. The 32-year old slugger is still in his prime, on pace to hit 50 home runs this season. Though they are the incumbent to Schwarber, the Phillies will need to outbid the competition to keep Schwarber in Philadelphia.
While his future in Philadelphia may be uncertain, Schwarber can now be certain that he will have a full Major League Baseball pension waiting for him at the end of his career.
