Philadelphia Phillies: Kyle Schwarber is on the verge of team history

Philadelphia Phillies‘ slugger Kyle Schwarber has had quite a fantastic season so far. Having recently been named to the 2022 National League All-Star team, Schwarber has carried this team offensively in the absence of reigning MVP Bryce Harper. After signing a four-year, $79 million deal with Philadelphia back in March, the first-year Phillie has already vastly exceeded expectations.

In the midst of what must be considered the best season of his career, Kyle Schwarber is on the verge of tying, potentially even setting, team history. Legendary third baseman Mike Schmidt leads the franchise in most home runs before the All-Star break. According to the Phillies’ baseball communication department, the 2022 All-Star is just three home runs away from tying the mark.

Back in 1979, Mike Schmidt finished with 45 home runs on the season but an absolutely unreal 31 homers before the Midsummer Classic. Ryan Howard meanwhile owns the record for most by a Phillie in a single season at 58, which he set in 2006. Both of these records are incredible to look back on, but Kyle Schwarber finds himself with the potential ability to tie or exceed both.

Needing just three home runs between now and July 19th, Philadelphia Phillies’ slugger Kyle Schwarber is on the precipice of making team history.

With just six games before the mid-season break, it would take quite the performance for Schwarber to make history in Philadelphia. That is still certainly possible though he has already proved to be one of the most impressive deep ball hitters when he gets the barrel on the ball. Just last week against the Washington Nationals, Schwarber had two consecutive multi-home run games, something that had not been achieved since Chase Utley did in 2006.

Difficult but not impossible is how this task should appear to Schwarber. The three opponents the Phillies will face in those final six games, all on the road, include the series finale today against the St. Louis Cardinals, a two-game series in Toronto against the Blue Jays, and a three-game series against the Miami Marlins to wrap up before the break.

The good news is that all three of these teams’ parks rank in the top half of home runs per game according to Park Factor, a stat that compares the rate of stats at home vs. the rate of stats on the road per ESPN. Philadelphia’s series in Toronto, in particular, will be one to watch as the Rogers Centre, the Blue Jays’ home park, ranks fourth in the entire league in Park Factor adjusted home runs per game (1.282).

It won’t be easy, but if Schwarber is able to dig deep as he has already to keep the Philadelphia Phillies afloat, then he has a chance to make team history in just his first season in town.