Aug 3, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber (12) hits a home run during the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The chants of "M-V-P! M-V-P," were growing louder and more frequent. With each passing rocket of a home run, those were bound to happen.
Earlier in the game, Kyle Schwarber hit a rocket so far to right field, that many thought it made it to the third deck of Citizens Bank Park. It didn't, but that's how stories etched in lore become so.
But what that homer did do is allow Schwarber to hurdle past Shohei Ohtani for the NL lead in dingers, thus the chanting.
So what did the rising MVP candidate do? He provided the ultimate encore.
Schwarber strode to the plate with the bases loaded amidst the echoing of those rhythmic three letters, and uncorked one his most gargantuan blasts of 2025.
Future MVP Kyle Schwarber’s grand slam with crowd noise only pic.twitter.com/nuqdPZT5VO
It capped off an eight-run sixth inning for the Phillies - all eight runs scoring with two outs after J.T. Realmuto should have been called out at first base but somehow, even after a challenge by Baltimore and a lengthy video review, was somehow still safe - in a 13-3 drubbing of the Orioles that built their lead in the NL EAst back to 1 1/2 games over the suddenly cold New York Mets.
It was Schwarber's 40th home run of the season. It was the earliest in the season a Phillies hitter had ever reached 40 home runs (Game 112, eclipsing Ryan Howard's record set in 2006).
And speaking of that 2006 Howard season, what once seemed highly unlikely is now actually within sight. Schwarber is on pace for 58 home runs this season, which would tie Howard's franchise record from that year - which just so happened to be an MVP year for the Big Piece.
Is hitting something you feel? Following his two-homer, six-RBI night, Kyle Schwarber explains to @AntSanPhilly: pic.twitter.com/xQa1QizqrL
"I've gone to battle with people that hitting is a feeling," Schwarber said. "There's days you can really have it and then you show up the next day and it slips away a little bit. You just got to keep working to get back to that feeling. You just got to keep the consistent work going. When you are feeling it, you go back to the 'not trying to do too much' part, staying through the middle of the field, and hopefully something good happens."
With two homers, Schwarber also had six RBIs in the game - the fifth time in his career he has done that - matching only New York Yankee teammates Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger among active players who have done it five times in their career. His 94 RBIs this season leads all of baseball.
He might not be among the league leaders in WAR - designated hitters are often punished in that regard as they only get credit for their offensive production - but it's hard not consider Schwarber a legitimate candidate for Most Valuable Player this season.
Yes, Ohtani is Ohtani, and does things no other player on the planet can, but right now, Schwarber is more productive. Pete Crow-Armstrong has had an amazing year for the Chicago Cubs, but he's just part of a powerful Chicago offense. Yes, he's a gold glove caliber centerfielder, which helps boost his cause as well, but it's fair to say the Cubs would still have a pretty darn good offense without Armstrong while the Phillies might be the Chicago White Sox without Schwarber.
O.K., maybe that's a tad hyperbolic, but his value to the Phillies this season far outweighs any other player in the National League on an individual basis. Look at the New York Yankees and their free fall right now without Judge. That's how valuable he has been to that team. If Schwarber were on the I.L. like Judge, the Phillies would probably suffer a similar fate.
"He's incredible," manager Rob Thomson said. "He's had a great year. He really has. The home runs. The RBIs. The big hits he's had for us. The on base. It's just... he's had a great year."
While Schwarber has the eye-popping power numbers, to be fair, since the All-Star break, the Phillies as a team do lead the Majors in home runs, something that eluded them for most of the season, except for Schwarber.
Bryce Harper reminding everyone that he's one of the best players in the game has helped. Harper hit a solo shot in the first inning on Monday. It was his 20th extra base hit in the last 20 games.
But the Phillies as a group hit six homers in the game. Edmundo Sosa and Weston Wilson were an unusual duo to go back-to-back late in the game, but the homer that gets lost in the shuffle in a blow out win was by Harrison Bader, who picked up his first Phillies hit in a big way, breaking a 3-3 tie in that aforementioned sixth inning.
Harrison Bader, Welcome to Philadelphia! 🔔 pic.twitter.com/BO56VUQYqF
The six home runs in a game were the most by the Phillies in a game since before the Schwarber era (Sept. 6, 2021 in Milwaukee).
It was only the third time the Phillies ever hit six in a game at Citizens Bank Park. (The other two were August 11, 2004 vs. Colorado and July 9, 2017 vs. San Diego - in case you were wondering).
This sudden power surge by the team is needed, but is it sustainable?
Rob Thomson speaks postgame about the Phillies’ recent uptick in power, via @GraceDelPizzo: pic.twitter.com/4UbYIccmpf
"It's a good sign," Thomson said. "But we got to keep it going. We've got a ways to go here. We've got to stay within ourselves, too and have good at bats because when you do the little things the big things happen. ... Home runs come and go. They really do."
Still, Schwarber thinks it's contagious and that it's based off energy. Sometimes the players need to provide that energy themselves, which isn't always the easiest thing in less-friendly environments. But at Citizens Bank Ballpark, consistent crowds over 40,000 strong help.
Kyle Schwarber talks to @AntSanPhilly about the Phillies’ recent power surge: pic.twitter.com/9b6itneZ9d
"When you hit a home run it's an instant point and when that happens, guys feed off it," he said. "It doesn't mean that the next guy is going up there and trying to hit a home run or anything like that, but it excites the crowd. It excites the dugout. We kind of feel that energy. It could carry over to the next at bat for someone. You get the fans on their feet. They're still going and the next thing you know it' more runs, more runs, more runs."
It's a sure bet Schwarber is going to continue to hear those MVP chants at the jam-packed ballpark in South Philly the rest of this season. And as long as he keeps responding the way he did Monday night, the odds of them getting their wish will only get better.
