Kyle Schwarber’s season with the Philadelphia Phillies has been remarkable, and while many believe he has little chance, he continues to earn his own merits to be considered for the National League MVP over Shohei Ohtani. Recently, the designated hitter hit his 54th home run of the season, surpassing the Japanese star by one with five games remaining in the regular season.https://www.marca.com/en/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/2025/09/18/68cb66f346163f44498b4612.html
Schwarber’s blast against the Marlins
Schwarber‘s home run came in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park in the opener of a three-game series. The National League MVP candidate crushed a 98.3 mph fastball from Edward Cabrera, sending it 385 feet to right field with an exit velocity of 112.0 mph and a 42-degree launch angle. The solo shot gave the Phillies an early 1-0 lead.
The left-handed Phillies reached 54 home runs, placing him second in the MLB home run race, behind only Cal Raleigh of Seattle (58) and just ahead of Shohei Ohtani (53). Additionally, he became the first Phillies player since Ryan Howard in 2009 to surpass 130 RBIs in a season. Just four home runs shy of Howard’s franchise record (58 in a season), Schwarber remains a strong contender in the race.
With fivegames left to play and the Phillies already securing the National League East title, Schwarber continues to be the driving force at the top of the lineup. His offensive stats in 2025 include a .930 OPS and the fourth-highest average exit velocity in the league, solidifying his value as the team’s power hitter.
Fans have enthusiastically celebrated his chase to lead the league in home runs. Many are already comparing Schwarber‘s hot streak to the peak performance of Ryan Howard during his MVP season, and his consistency positions him as a decisive factor heading into the postseason.
The Phillies, with a 92-64 record, are aiming to catch the Milwaukee Brewers (95-62) for the top seed in the National League. Schwarber’s offensive explosion in the season’s final stretch brings momentum, excitement for potential records, and a critical boost to the lineup just in time for the playoffs.
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