Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber is having a statistically interesting season. Schwarber is the most discussed leadoff hitter in baseball. Even with Schwarber missing time due to injury this season has been different at the plate. On August 7, Schwarber made Phillies history. No other Phillies player in their first three seasons in Philadelphia has hit at least 25 home runs. Schwarber also hit three home runs during that August 7 game. Earlier this season, Bryce Harper had a three-home run game. The 2024 season joins the 1936 season as the two seasons in Phillies history where multiple players had three home run games.
In 103 games this season, Schwarber is slashing .261/.390/.504 line with 27 home runs and 73 RBI. Schwarber has an NL-leading 82 walks and a 150 OPS+ this season. For comparison, in 2022, Schwarber walked 86 times in 669 plate appearances. Last season, Schwarber had 126 walks in 720 plate appearances. Schwarber has 479 plate appearances so far this season. Regarding OPS+, Schwarber is on track for a career-best for a full season. This season, Schwarber has struck out 131 times. Schwarber has a 27.4% strikeout rate this season. For comparison, last season, Schwarber had a 29.9% strikeout rate. Overall, in all three categories, Schwarber has a better slash line this season.
Phillies Designated Hitter Having Statistically Interesting Season
Analytics Rankings
Schwarber ranks in the 93rd percentile in xSLG this season, according to Baseball Savant. One factor in this is Schwarber reducing his chase rate. According to Baseball Savant, Schwarber is in the 95th percentile in chase rate this season. Furthermore, Schwarber is on track to have his best BABIP as a member of the Phillies. Schwarber has a .315 BABIP this season. Having a better average bat speed and more barrels per Baseball Savant than the league average contributes to this. Schwarber ranks in the 99th percentile in bat speed, according to Baseball Savant. Additionally, Baseball Savant ranks Schwarber in the 90th percentile in barrel rate this season.
Reverse Splits
Schwarber has reverse splits, leading the Phillies designated hitter to have an even more statistically interesting season. This season, Schwarber has reverse splits. Against right-handed pitchers, Schwarber has a .813 OPS this season, which is 240 at-bats. Meanwhile, Schwarber has a 1.030 OPS against left-handed pitcher in 147 at-bats this season. Schwarber has a .873 OPS in 2704 career at-bats against right-handed pitchers. Meanwhile, in 1050 career at-bats, Schwarber has a .748 OPS against left-handed pitchers. It is somewhat unusual for a left-handed power hitter like Schwarber to have reverse splits.
General Success Against Left-Handed Pitchers
Schwarber is tied for the seventh-best OPS this season against left-handed pitchers. In addition, Schwarber ranks second in walks and fourth in home runs against left-handed pitchers this season. However, Schwarber also ranks third in strikeouts against left-handed pitchers this season. All rankings are among qualified players. Last season, Schwarber had a .758 OPS against left-handed pitchers. Schwarber has improved that number by nearly doubling his batting average and BABIP in that category this season compared to last. This area is largely responsible for the overall improved offensive production from Schwarber this season.
Leadoff Stats Part Of Phillies Designated Hitter Seeing Statistically Interesting Season
This season, Schwarber has the most RBI of any player hitting in the leadoff spot. Schwarber has also tied his Phillies record for leadoff home runs in a season. Leading off a game this season, Schwarber has a 1.068 OPS and 11 home runs. Schwarber is one of five players to have batted first in the order for their team in at least 100 games this season. Among those players, Schwarber has the most home runs and the best OPS while batting first in the lineup. When Schwarber hits a leadoff home run, the Phillies are 24-5, covering the entire time Schwarber has batted leadoff for the Phillies. Another set of data points showing the Phillies designated hitter having a statistically interesting season.
Main Photo Credits: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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