Kyle Schwarber is certain to play at least three more games for the Philadelphia Phillies. But every team supporter wants hundreds more.
Schwarber has emerged as the backbone of the Phillies’ offense, and this was by far his greatest season as a professional. He led the National League with 56 home runs, the majors with 132 RBIs, and was one of six players to play all 162 games for his clubs (including Rafael Devers, who played 163 due to a midseason trade).
The Phillies attempted and failed to get an extension for Schwarber prior to the season. That will be costly in any case, as they will either lose millions of dollars when they sign his next deal or lose him to another club ready to spend more than they are to keep him in-house.
As they reach the postseason, the Phillies are acutely aware that Schwarber’s time in Philadelphia may be coming to an end — yet none of them can see him leaving.
Manager Rob Thomson revealed as much ahead of the team’s last regular-season game.
“Yeah, it’s difficult,” Thomson told Matt Gelb of The Athletic. “Not only is he talented, but he also offers something to the room. What he provides to the community. He’s a well-rounded individual in many ways. I adore having him around. He’s an excellent human being. Yeah, it’s impossible to imagine this squad without him.”
The Phillies’ postseason journey will begin on Saturday with Game 1 of the National League Division Series, when they face the winner of the best-of-three series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds.
Schwarber has been one of Philadelphia’s most powerful offensive threats in his first three playoff appearances, with a.933 OPS and 12 homers in 34 games. He’s coming off his worst postseason run in the big leagues a year ago, when he went just 2-for-16 in the team’s NLDS loss to the New York Mets.
Anyone who watches the Phillies play can see how much they adore Schwarber. But they’d be well to appreciate every second of this postseason run, considering it may be his last.
