Schwarber Reaches 50 Home Runs, Phillies Top Mets
PHILADELPHIA – Kyle Schwarber launched his 50th home run of the season, a three-run shot in the seventh inning off reliever Justin Hagenman, as the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the New York mets. The milestone homer, a 437-foot blast to center field, extended the Phillies’ lead to 7-1 and ignited chants of “MVP! MVP!” from the home crowd.
Schwarber reached the 50-homer mark after a stretch of 10 games and 49 plate appearances. He is now three home runs behind major league leader Cal Raleigh of the Seattle mariners, who has 53.
“I don’t know what to say about why have you hit so many homers or whatever it is,” Schwarber said. “It’s just the way it happens. It’s not like I go up there trying to do that. It just finds its way. It’s a cool thing.”
The achievement makes Schwarber only the second Phillies player to reach 50 home runs in a season,joining 2008 World series champion Ryan Howard,who hit 58 in 2006. Mike Schmidt,a Hall of Famer,topped out at 48 in 1980.
Schwarber is the first player in MLB history to hit a four-homer game and reach 50 home runs in the same season. He previously hit four home runs in a game on August 28 against Atlanta.
“I went through a little bit of a rough patch,” Schwarber said. “I felt like over the last four or five days, I was having some really good, quality at-bats. Hitting some balls hard. There’s not anything you can do to worry about that.”
The 32-year-old Schwarber has become a fan favorite since signing a four-year, $79 million free-agent contract ahead of the 2022 season. He previously hit a career-high 47 home runs in 2023 and 46 in 2022.
The Phillies, currently holding a nine-game lead over the Mets with 17 games remaining, are on pace to win their second consecutive NL East championship. The team has reached the playoffs in each of the three seasons as Schwarber joined the team.
Schwarber, who was named All-Star Game MVP after hitting three home runs in the game’s first swing-off, can become a free agent after the season. Phillies managing partner John Middleton has expressed a strong desire to re-sign him.
