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Philadelphia Phillies: Kyle Schwarber’s hot June is a promising turn

By Tim Boyle

SAN DIEGO, CA - JUNE 23: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies points into the outfield after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres June 23, 2022 at Petco Park in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - JUNE 23: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies points into the outfield after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres June 23, 2022 at Petco Park in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /
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Kyle Schwarber got off to a great start for the Philadelphia Phillies when he hit a home run on Opening Day. Then a slump began. He slashed only .169/.298/.423 in April. He wasn’t much better in May. Schwarber batted only .196/.320/.402 in the second month of the season.

It was beginning to look like the Schwarber signing was a bust. Add in the fact that Bryce Harper was limited to DH duties, he was a huge burden on the team not executing in the way the Phillies need him to most: driving in runs.

The story completely changed in June. After Sunday’s game, he is slashing .283/.394/.674 with 10 of his 21 home runs in this month alone—and a few days left to add to it.

Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber is having a red hot summer.

The timing of Schwarber’s awakening comes at an important time. The Phillies will be without Harper for several weeks due to a broken thumb. In his absence, they will need every long fly ball they can get from Schwarber and friends.

June has been Schwarber’s favorite month to play baseball. Maybe it’s the lack of carpenter bees in his wooden fence or the excitement of knowing he won’t get stuck in traffic behind a school bus for months. Whatever it is, Schwarber has been beastly in his career in June.

In his first 514 plate appearances in the month of June, Schwarber hit 44 home runs while slashing .258/.353/.597. The slash line includes personal month highs in batting average and slugging percentage by quite a wide margin. This also includes only 128 games played which means in a 162-game average, Schwarber is challenging 60 dingers in this particular month.

Last year was a tremendously productive June for Schwarber who slashed .280/.362/.760 with 16 home runs as a member of the Washington Nationals. He’s doing similar things this year with Philadelphia and hopefully it’ll carry over into July.

Although June has been his best month, Schwarber’s lifetime splits between the first and second half suggest the best may be yet to come. In his first 1592 plate appearances in the first half, he has hit .227/.336/.483 with 95 home runs. After the All-Star Break, he has batted .255/.360/.527 with 67 home runs in 1073 trips to the plate.

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Schwarber has a track record of hitting very well in June and continuing to succeed in the latter part of the year. The Phillies will need it. Whether he’s batting at the top of in the middle of the order, this kind of offensive production can save the season.

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