Kyle Schwarber’s Fantastic Start To 2025 Season Proving That A Second Contract Is Needed
Apr 3, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) reacts in front of Colorado Rockies catcher Jacob Stallings (25) after his home run during the seventh inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Now officially one week in the 2025 season, the Philadelphia Phillies are off to a hot start. They kicked off the year winning two of three games down in D.C. against the Washington Nationals, and are coming off a sweep over the Colorado Rockies during their first home series of the year.
Pitching has no doubt been the strong point for this team through six games, with ace Zack Wheeler looking like the Cy Young favorite through two starts, and Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo, and, surprisingly, Taijuan Walker all having excellent starts to 2025.
The offense has been good, not great, as the team has struggled to get after starting pitchers in their first six games. They have not scored a run in the first three innings for the first time since 1963, and have only scored six of their 33 total runs against starting pitching.
Nearly all of the starters have had games where they’ve played great and games where they’ve played badly. I say nearly all of them, as one has yet to slow down through the first week of the season, and that guy is Kyle Schwarber.
Through six games, Schwarber has undoubtedly been the team’s best player, logging a hit in every single game he’s played. He has four home runs, becoming the first Phillie since Darren Daulton in 1993 to hit four home runs in the first six games of the year. His moonshot home run in Thursday’s win over the Rockies ended up being the winning run, helping the Phils pick up their first sweep of the year.
SCHWEET pic.twitter.com/cxb3GniH7h
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 3, 2025
The big question with Schwarber heading into the year was where the lefty would bat in the Phillies’ lineup. He’s been the everyday leadoff hitter since coming to Philadelphia and has arguably put up his three best years of his career, hitting in the one hole.
However, the issue is that the Phillies haven’t been able to complete the team’s goal of winning a World Series, and many have felt that a change to the top of the order could help. Speedy shortstop Trea Turner has begun to see time in the leadoff spot, and so far it has proved to be effective. With lefties Brandon Marsh and Bryson Stott likely being in the eight and nine spots in the order, having Schwarber leadoff would put three lefties in a row in the Phillies lineup.
Despite that, the Phillies have had three lefties in a row in their lineup before, and they have still been able to have offensive success. That’s in large part due to Schwarber, as his approach at the plate is one of the best in baseball.
Whether it’s getting walks, hitting Schwarbombs, or just getting a clutch hit, Schwarber is your guy. He’s been able to carry the team at times, famously during the month of June, something that not many other players can say they do.
Since signing a four-year $79 million contract with the Phillies in 2022, Schwarber has hit 135 home runs, driven in 310 RBI’s and just passed 250 extra base hits as a Phillie. He has earned every single dollar that he has been paid and then some.
Not only has he been great, but you appreciate him more knowing how different that Phillies offseason could’ve gone. Former third baseman, now outfielder Kris Bryant, who Phillies fans got to watch this week, was a major contender to join the Phillies during free agency that offseason. Bryant has struggled since joining Colorado, and if the same production had come with the Phillies, who knows where this team would be right now?
Schwarber is only tied to Philadelphia for the remainder of the 2025 season, and the fact that he isn’t signed for longer is a crime. Signing Schwarber to a contract extension is a must for this team, as not only has he been a fantastic player over the past three years, but the leadership and intensity he brings have turned this team into the great ballclub that they are.
No matter if it’s batting leadoff, cleanup, or eighth in the lineup, the Schwarbarion has always delivered. This season is no different as he’s come up clutch time and time again for the Phillies. While Bryce Harper is the MVP and biggest part of the Phillies, Schwarber is just as important to this team and its success.
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Matt Brown
Matt has been a Philadelphia sports fan all his life and spent four years at Penn State University majoring in Broadcast Journalism and minoring in Sports Studies. He previously covered Penn State’s field hockey, men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball teams while writing for a Penn State blog called Onward State. He has now covered the Phillies, Eagles, and Sixers for Philly Sports Reports since October 2024 and wants to pursue a career in Sports Journalism.
