The Next Great Slugger: Kyle Schwarber Joins Ryan Howard in Phillies' 50-Homer Club

The Philadelphia Phillies have a new member in their most exclusive power-hitting club. Kyle Schwarber became just the second player in franchise history to reach the 50-homer milestone, launching a three-run shot in the seventh inning of Tuesday night's 9-3 victory over the New York Mets.

With the blast, Schwarber joins legendary slugger Ryan Howard, who set the single-season franchise record with 58 home runs in 2006.

The 50th "Schwarbomb" came after what, for him, was a prolonged slump. The designated hitter had gone 10 games without a home run since his historic four-homer performance on August 28th. But he ended the drought in style, smashing a Justin Hagenman pitch at 110.4 mph that traveled a Statcast-projected 437 feet, bouncing off the pitch clock in center field.

Schwarber now holds three of the top-ten single-season home run totals in Phillies history, following his 46-homer campaign in 2022 and 47 in 2023. While he has some catching up to do to match Howard's 58, Schwarber still has 17 games left in the season.

As the Phillies barrel toward a division title, Schwarber’s historic performance has been a driving force. His ability to produce game-changing power, even after a brief slump, shows why he is one of the most feared hitters in the game and a fan favorite in Philadelphia. The achievement solidifies his status as a key piece of the Phillies' championship aspirations and a legend in the making.

The long ball was part of a dominant win for the Phillies, who extended their NL East lead to a commanding nine games. The victory brings them one step closer to clinching a division title and solidifies Schwarber's status as a fan favorite and a legitimate MVP contender in the National League.