Philadelphia Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber has set a new MLB single-season record by hitting his 14th leadoff home run on Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Rays. Unfortunately, he had to exit the game in the fourth inning due to discomfort in his left elbow.
In the bottom of the first inning, Schwarber launched a 1-0 fastball from Rays pitcher Taj Bradley, sending the ball an impressive 437 feet into center field. This remarkable shot not only propelled the Phillies to a 1-0 lead but also allowed Schwarber to surpass Alfonso Soriano, who previously held the record with 13 leadoff home runs during his 2003 season with the New York Yankees.
This home run marked Schwarber’s 35th of the season and his 45th leadoff homer overall, with 32 of those coming since he joined the Phillies in 2022.
In the bottom of the third inning, Schwarber walked to first base but appeared to injure his elbow while diving back to the base during a pickoff attempt by Tampa Bay catcher Logan Driscoll.
After experiencing a 17-game home run drought and only one homer in his previous 23 games, Schwarber has turned things around dramatically. He has now hit seven home runs in his last eight games, including three in his first at-bat.
At 31 years old, Schwarber leads the Phillies in both home runs and RBIs, boasting 95 runs batted in this season.
He has consistently led off for the Phillies in all 133 games he has started this season, despite missing 10 days earlier in July due to a groin strain. His resilience and power at the plate continue to make him a crucial player for the team this season, as noted by Fox Sports.
