Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber won’t participate in Home Run Derby after making All-Star Game
PHILADELPHIA – While Kyle Schwarber will be heading to Atlanta for Major League Baseball’s 95th All-Star Game next week, he won’t be suiting up for the Home Run Derby. A two-time participant in the event, the Phillies slugger will hold off this season.
“I’m not going to do the Home Run Derby,” Schwarber said Sunday. “Maybe see what happens next year.”
Next year’s All-Star Game and Home Run Derby, of course, will be in Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park. However, there’s no guarantee that Schwarber will still be wearing a Phillies uniform at that time. The left-handed hitter is in the final season of a four-year deal with the club and can become a free agent this offseason.
In any case, Schwarber was named to his third All-Star team on Sunday evening and will represent the Phillies along with starting pitcher Zack Wheeler. The designated hitter was previously an All-Star in 2021 and 2022. He hit in the Home Run Derby in 2018 and 2022, finishing as the runner-up to his current teammate Bryce Harper in his derby debut.
Although he’s been around for the festivities before, it was still an honor for Schwarber to learn that he’d be joining the National League roster at Truist Park on July 15.
“It’s definitely something that’s not overlooked, right?” Schwarber said. “When you’re named an All-Star and you get to go to the game and you get to do all the typical things, it’s fun. Get there, get through that game, have fun and then get a little breather and get back to work.”
Schwarber, 32, has been productive as ever for the Phillies. He’s batting .251/.383/.541 with 27 home runs in 90 games this season, his 11th in the big leagues. He’s fifth in the majors in homers, and his .924 OPS ranks seventh.
His production against left-handed pitching has continued to amaze. He had a key RBI double against lefty reliever Sam Moll in Philadelphia’s 3-1 victory over the Reds on Sunday, helping support Wheeler’s dominant one-hit, complete-game performance. Schwarber has a 1.108 OPS against lefties this season.