Phillies Designated Hitter’s Season Packed with Unique Stats
Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber is having a season filled with intriguing stats. As one of the most talked-about leadoff hitters in baseball, Schwarber’s performance at the plate has been noteworthy, despite some time missed due to injury. On August 7, Schwarber made Phillies history by becoming the first player in their initial three seasons with the team to hit at least 25 home runs. In that same game, Schwarber hit three home runs, a feat previously achieved this season by Bryce Harper, making 2024 only the second season in Phillies history—alongside 1936—where multiple players have had three-homer games.
In 103 games this season, Schwarber is slashing with 27 home runs and 73 RBIs. He leads the National League with 82 walks and boasts a 150 OPS+, on track for a career-high over a full season. By comparison, Schwarber had 86 walks in 669 plate appearances in 2022 and 126 in 720 plate appearances last season. So far, he has 479 plate appearances this season. His strikeout rate has also improved, down to 27.4% this season from 29.9% last season. Across all three slash line categories, Schwarber is having a better season than last year.
Analytics and Advanced Metrics
According to Baseball Savant, Schwarber ranks in the 93rd percentile for expected slugging percentage (xSLG) this season, thanks partly to reducing his chase rate, which is now in the 95th percentile. His batting average on balls in play (BABIP) of .315 is on track to be his best with the Phillies, aided by a higher average bat speed and more barrels than the league average. Schwarber is in the 99th percentile for bat speed and the 90th percentile for barrel rate, making his season even more statistically remarkable.
Reverse Splits
This season, Schwarber has exhibited reverse splits, which is unusual for a left-handed power hitter. He has an OPS of .813 against right-handed pitchers in 240 at-bats, but an impressive 1.030 OPS against left-handed pitchers in 147 at-bats. Over his career, Schwarber has a .873 OPS against right-handers and a .748 OPS against left-handers, making his current reverse splits particularly noteworthy.
Success Against Left-Handed Pitchers
Schwarber is tied for the seventh-best OPS against left-handed pitchers this season, ranking second in walks and fourth in home runs, but also third in strikeouts among qualified players. Compared to last season, Schwarber has nearly doubled his batting average and BABIP against left-handers, contributing significantly to his improved offensive output.
Leadoff Stats
Schwarber also leads all players batting in the leadoff spot in RBIs this season and has tied his Phillies record for leadoff home runs in a season. When leading off a game, he has a 1.068 OPS with 11 home runs. Among the five players who have batted first in the order for at least 100 games this season, Schwarber has the most home runs and the best OPS. When he hits a leadoff home run, the Phillies are 24-5, further highlighting the unique and statistically interesting season Schwarber is having.
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