Kyle Schwarber’s Impressive Start to the 2026 Season
The Philadelphia Phillies haven’t had the best start to the 2026 season, which makes it easy to miss what Kyle Schwarber is doing. Even though he’s in his early 30s, Schwarber has significantly elevated his offensive performance. Last year, he hit a career-best 56 home runs, and if he keeps this up, he might achieve even greater numbers this season.
As of now, Schwarber has already belted 20 home runs in just 46 games, putting him on track to hit around 70 by the end of the season. That’s pretty remarkable.
When we look at historical context, only Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire have hit more than 70 home runs in a single MLB season. Both, however, have their legacies shadowed by their connections to performance-enhancing drugs. It’s interesting to think about whether Schwarber could reach that milestone without such controversies hanging over him. So far, 2026 has been impressive for him.
- Bonds: 73
- McGwire: 70
- Sammy Sosa: 66
- McGwire: 65
- Sosa: 64
- Sosa: 63
Prior to Aaron Judge’s incredible 62-home run season in 2022, the conversation largely centered around Bonds, McGwire, and Sosa. But could Schwarber be the one to break 70 and do it without the baggage of performance enhancers? Looking at his stats, there’s reason for both hope and skepticism.
As of late, he’s hit more home runs than 22 other teams. In fact, his total bases per inning surpass those of the entire San Diego Padres. That’s pretty eye-catching, to say the least.
Diving deeper into his performance, several factors contribute to both optimism and caution. For instance, Schwarber’s average launch angle is currently at 23.6 degrees, which is a notable improvement for him. Elevating the ball increases the chances of clearing the fences. Plus, he’s hitting the ball harder than ever, with a career barrel percentage of 16.6% shooting up to 26.2% this year.
However, there are some red flags too. His current .642 slugging percentage is significantly higher than the expected .592. This suggests that while he’s undoubtedly performing well, there might be an element of luck involved. Additionally, his home run/fly ball rate has jumped to 33.9%, compared to 28.6% last season. Continuously sustaining that higher rate could be a stretch.
Nevertheless, if Schwarber keeps this momentum, he could be in for a historic finish this season.
