John Middleton says Phillies ‘need no motivation’ to keep Kyle Schwarber

PHILADELPHIA — Kyle Schwarber blasted three home runs in the first-ever swing-off in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game on Tuesday, lifting the National League to victory and the slugger to All-Star MVP honors at Atlanta’s Truist Park.

Schwarber put on a show. His power was a spectacle. It was the type of performance that Philadelphia hopes it can see when the city hosts the Midsummer Classic in 2026. Does that provide any extra motivation to make sure Schwarber, an impending free agent, is still in a Phillies uniform for next year’s All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park?

“We need no motivation whatsoever when it comes to Kyle Schwarber,” Phillies owner John Middleton said. “He’s great. We thought he was great when we signed him years ago. We thought he’s great consistently during the years. There’s nothing Kyle does that surprises us, no matter how great he is. We expect that from Kyle.”

Middleton spoke to reporters on Friday night before the Phillies started off their first game after the All-Star break against the Angels. Earlier in the day, the team officially launched its 2026 All-Star Game campaign at a “Declaration” event at Philadelphia’s City Hall. The Phillies unveiled a new All-Star Game logo, which is now displayed in left-center field at the ballpark. They put on an on-field ceremony that concluded with Ryan Howard and Bobby Abreu throwing out first pitches.

It was first announced in 2019 that Philadelphia would have the 2026 All-Star Game, the city’s first since 1996 and fifth overall. Next summer will be packed with festivities, as Philly will also be home to some FIFA World Cup games and plenty of events for the nation’s 250th anniversary.

“It’s going to be a great year for Philadelphia,” Middleton said, “and the All-Star Game is going to be a really great moment in July for all of us.”

But it’s hard to imagine what it would mean for the Phillies if Schwarber isn’t still around in red pinstripes, potentially participating in the Home Run Derby.

Schwarber has evolved into one of the most feared hitters in the big leagues since he signed a four-year deal in Philadelphia before the 2022 season. He’s hit 162 regular-season home runs as a Phillie and helped the club reach the World Series in his first year. The left-handed batter has turned himself into a force against lefty pitchers. He’s currently the main source of pop in Philadelphia’s lineup.

The 32-year-old Schwarber entered Friday slashing .247/.378/.545 with 30 homers in 96 games this season. He hit No. 31 in his first at-bat versus Los Angeles; Nick Castellanos is second on the team with 12 home runs. Whether it’s at the top or in the middle of the order, Schwarber has gotten on base for the Phillies and done damage to the opposition.

The Phillies would certainly like to have him back for the future. There are probably very few scenarios where he walks and the team is in a better spot. But it seems like the designated hitter should be due for a large payday with the way he’s played. It won’t come cheap for the Phils.

Tuesday night’s exhibition didn’t exactly mean a whole lot in the grand scheme of things, but it did serve as yet another reminder of how tantalizing Schwarber’s bat is. However, Middleton said it didn’t change anything for the Phillies. They already knew how valuable he is.

“He’s a great person in the dugout,” Middleton said. “He’s a great person in the clubhouse. We love him. We want to keep him. We don’t need any motivation whatsoever.”