Phillies news and rumors 8/5: Kyle Schwarber made leadoff history on Sunday

In Sunday’s Phillies’ win, Kyle Schwarber put his club on the board just three pitches into the game with his 10th leadoff home run of the season. Overall, it was Schwarber’s 23rd homer of 2024.

The leadoff Schwarbomb has become somewhat normal in recent years. Schwarber hit seven leadoff homers in 2022 and set a Phillies single-season franchise record with 11 leadoff homers in 2023. But just because it’s become somewhat normal for Schwarber to hit leadoff homers, doesn’t mean it’s actually something everybody can do, or has done, like him.

According to MLB researcher Sarah Langs, Schwarber became just the second player ever to record 10-plus leadoff home runs in multiple seasons on Sunday, joining Alfonso Soriano.

Like Schwarber, Soriano also did it twice. In 2003, he led off 13 games with a home run for the Yankees. Four years later in 2007, Soriano hit 12 leadoff homers for the Cubs.

Schwarber’s previous leadoff home run before Sunday’s was also historic. On July 28 against the Guardians, he became just the 11th player ever to have at least 40 leadoff home runs in their career. His current total of 41 is just five shy of tying Jimmy Rollins’ career total of 46 leadoff homers, which are eighth most in baseball history.

Altogether, Schwarber is just one of 10 players to have recorded double-digit leadoff home runs in a single season, joining Bobby Bonds (11 in 1973), Brady Anderson (12 in 1996), Jacque Jones (11 in 2002), Soriano (13 in 2003 and 12 in 2007), Charlie Blackmon (10 in 2016), George Springer (12 in 2019), Jose Altuve (12 in 2022), Mookie Betts (12 in 2023) and Marcus Semein (10 in 2023).

Must-read Phillies content:

• Bryce Harper and Zack Wheeler led the Phillies to their much-needed win in Seattle on Sunday. Phillies Nation’s Tim Kelly has the recap.
• Tim also took a look at the umpiring from Saturday night, which was far from adequate.
• The most recent episode of ‘Phillies Nation TV’ included an interview with Mo’ne Davis, who shared her incredible story with Phillies Nation founder Brian Michael.

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