Sep 9, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) reacts after hitting a home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Bill Streicher
Tuesday evening's Phillies game against the Rays started out on about as positive of a note as possible for Kyle Schwarber, but went sideways not long after.
Schwarber led off by hitting a center-cut fastball from Taj Bradley 437 feet. Not only was it already Schwarber's seventh home run of September, but his 14th leadoff home run of the season. That set a new single-season MLB record, moving him beyond the 13 Alfonso Soriano hit for the New York Yankees in 2003.
“And that is it, it’s gone! It’s a record breaker!”
🎙️Scott Franzke calls Kyle Schwarber’s 14th leadoff homer of the season, via @_piccone
pic.twitter.com/xrJs9zTuyl
However, Buddy Kennedy pinch hit for Schwarber in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Phillies later announced that Schwarber departed the game with left elbow discomfort, and that he would be further evaluated.
After the game, Rob Thomson called it a "left elbow contusion," adding that "it's kind of a little bit of a hyperextension." It happened when Schwarber was diving back to first base on a back-pick attempt in the bottom of the third inning.
Here’s where Kyle Schwarber appeared to have suffered his injury tonight. He’s left the game with "left elbow discomfort."#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/FmnLcS2ILc
Thomson said Schwarber is day-to-day and he plans to put him in the preliminary lineup for Wednesday, but will "see where he's at tomorrow" before making the lineup official.
Schwarber said that he took a swing in the batting cage below the dugout after the slide, and "it didn't feel good." Schwarber was then pulled and received treatment. While acknowledging the left elbow did swell up a bit, Schwarber seemed to think he has a real chance to play in Wednesday's series finale.
"...[I'm] day-to-day," Schwarber said. "There's nothing structurally wrong, so pretty much just tomorrow if I can stand it, then [I'll] play."
Schwarber's third season in Philadelphia has been his most complete at the plate. He's hitting .251 after hitting just .207 across his first two campaigns with the Phillies. At the same time, he has 35 home runs and an NL-best 98 walks, so he hasn't had to sacrifice other areas of value to increase the batting average.
