Kyle Schwarber Is More Valuable to the Phillies Than Most People Think

The Philadelphia Phillies have one of the best hitters in Baseball in their lineup this season, but he is the sixth-highest-paid player on the roster in 2025.

While most people would look at Kyle Schwarber's $20 Million salary this season as a lot of money, the reality is that the 32-year-old Slugger has been a discount for the Phillies organization.

This season, the Phillies are paying Bryce Harper ($27.53 Million), Trea Turner ($27.27 Million), and JT Realmuto ($23.87 Million) more money than Kyle Schwarber while Nick Castellanos ($20 Million) gets the same salary as the Philllies' Designated Hitter.

But Kyle Schwarber is not just one of the best hitters on the roster, but after Philadelphia's win on Sunday Night Baseball, Schwarber is among Major League Baseball's best in multiple statistical categories:

*14 Home Runs are tied with Aaron Judge for most in MLB
*Schwarber's .404 On-Base Percentage is 10th best in Baseball, right behind Shohei Ohtani (.410)
*His On-Base plus Slugging Percentage (.998) is fifth best in MLB
*Schwarber's 32 Runs Batted In are tied for seventh most in Baseball with Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki

Is Kyle Schwarber The Most underappreciated hitter On The Phillies?

Since signing a 4-year contract worth $79 Million before the 2022 season, Kyle Schwarber has arguably been Philadelphia's most reliable power hitter. Schwarber is averaging 44 Home Runs and 101 RBI per season over the first three years with the Phillies.

Originally selected as the 4th overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft, he was expected to be the next great Baseball Slugger. After helping the Chicago Cubs win the World Series in 2016, Schwarber would go on to hit 110 Home Runs during his first five seasons.

But Schwarber really struggled during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 MLB season, and he looked nothing like a former young star who was supposed to be entering the Prime of his career. Instead, at 27-years-old, Schwarber had a.188 Batting Average and after the season was let walk by Chicago in Free Agency.

After splitting the 2021 season between the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox, Schwarber found his power bat with 32 Home Runs in 113 games played. He parlayed that success into signing with the Phillies.

Now, Schwarber is on pace for a career-defining statistical season and has become a Dark Horse Candidate for the National League MVP Award. If the Phillies are serious about winning beyond the 2025 season, the organization must invest the money to keep him.

Former MLB General Manager With High Praise For Schwarber

Despite hitting 47 Home Runs and having .343 On-Base Percentage in 2023, Kyle Schwarber led the National League in Strikeouts (215) and had an ugly .197 Batting Average.

Schwarber committed himself to improving his health and losing weight before the 2024 MLB season.  His offseason hard work paid off with a .248 Batting Average and increasing his On-Base Percentage points along with leading the National League in Walks (106).

After another offseason where he maintained his commitment to staying in shape, he looks like a physical beast compared to the young player who looked "soft around the edges" when he came up to the big leagues with the Cubs ten years ago.

On the Phillies Show Podcast, former MLB Player and Phillies Executive Ruben Amaro Jr. gave a detailed explanation for what makes the Phillies Slugger such a valuable player even as he gets older:

"(Kyle Schwarber) sort of reminds me of another (Designated Hitter) that was non-tendered (by the team that drafted him), was David Ortiz by the Minnesota Twins. It's funny the similarities because they're both leaders, both left-handed hitters, both DH's, both with power, great people. I don't know if Kyle Schwarber could become a Hall of Famer, but you know....
It's really important that he's gotten (in shape) himself with his lower half....(because) Kyle Schwarber has had some knee issues (over the years), he's had some hip stuff, but this year he's really healthy. He really concentrated on (his health) in the offseason to make sure that during the season that his lower half is strong because if it stays strong, he's going to be fine.

One big power hitter for the Phillies was Ryan Howard, who lost his (abilities) because of the injuries that he had in his lower half. (He couldn't) be the hitter that he could have been in the latter part of his career. And so that lower half stability is something that's really important (and Kyle's) in such great shape. Every time I see an old Cubs video (of Schwarber), I'm like 'that's (not the) same guy. This guy's 10 years older (and) is taking care of himself."

It should be no surprise that Kyle Schwarber has one of the top selling Phillies Jerseys in 2024. Here is the full list of last season's best-selling uniforms: