There’s a hitter in Major League Baseball who’s hit more home runs than singles, and he’s the team’s top hitter. Philadelphia outfielder Kyle Schwarber, 30, is the man behind the record.
“As of today, Schwarber is batting .195 with 41 home runs and 90 RBIs in 138 games this season,” Fox Sports reported on Aug. 8. “He has 98 total hits, including 41 home runs, one triple and 16 doubles, but only 40 singles. He has more home runs than singles.” He ranks third in the National League in home runs.메이저사이트
Schwarber, a left-handed hitter from Ohio, USA, was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the first round (4th overall) of the 2014 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. A catcher at the time of his draft, he was described as a “game-changing power hitter” by local media and major league officials.
Schwarber made his major league debut in 2015, just one year after being selected in the first round. He showed promise in his first year, hitting .246 with 16 home runs and 43 RBIs in 69 games. His on-base percentage and slugging percentage combined for an OPS of .842.
Since then, Schwarber has developed into a power hitter who has hit double-digit home runs every year except for 2016, when he only played in two games due to injury. He surpassed 30 homers in a season in 2017 (30) and 2019 (38), then in 2021 (32) while playing for Washington and Boston, and last year in Philadelphia he hit a career-high 46 arches. It was this power that earned him a massive four-year, $79 million contract with the Phillies last year.
But he has his weaknesses. For all his power, Schwarber’s batting average lacks precision.
After hitting .188 in the 2020 season, Schwarber hit just .218 last year. This year, he’s batting just .195. He has 240 career home runs, but only a .227 batting average.
“If you asked me if I wanted to hit .260 for the season, I would say yes,” Schwarber told Fox Sports. “I hate seeing my batting average on the scoreboard when I’m at bat. But that’s the way it is, and you have to accept that and figure out how to be a more productive hitter.”
“If I’m hitting .180 right now and I’m batting .250, that’s really serious,” he said, adding that he still has a good on-base percentage (.345) and slugging percentage (.475) on the season. His OPS is .820.
The Phillies have used Schwarber as a regular leadoff hitter this season. He’s not your typical top-of-the-order hitter with quick feet. The numbers prove it. He had attempted two stolen bases this season before today, but hadn’t stolen a single one. He also has 22 stolen bases in his major league career (36 attempts).
Schwarber told the media, “I’m not a typical No. 1 hitter who can steal 30 or so bases a season. Maybe 29,” he joked.
“He was a really good leadoff hitter, and watching him play made me realize how much of an impact a leadoff hitter can have on a game,” he said, referring to former Cubs teammate Dexter Fowler, 37. “I’m not there yet, but I feel like I’m getting better and better as I get more at-bats at leadoff.”
Schwarber is a new breed of top-of-the-order hitter, with 28 home runs in the leadoff spot this season. Of those home runs, 10 have come in the first inning, putting him on pace for the most in Philadelphia franchise history.