Phillies' Kyle Schwarber returns to first base, blasts MLB-leading 25th homer

With the Philadelphia Phillies looking for a defensive adjustment, manager Don Mattingly went over his options.

When he considered where to position slugger Kyle Schwarber for Tuesday's MLB matchup against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park, Mattingly decided less would prove to be more.

"If he played outfield for the entire game, that means he would have run out there and run all the way back," Mattingly joked with reporters during his pregame chat. "I feel like if he can get to first and back, he'll be OK."

Mattingly was right.

Receiving his initial start at first base since joining the Phillies before the 2022 campaign, Schwarber played the position for the first time in 1,698 days. The last time he competed as a first baseman came in the  2021 ALCS with the Boston Red Sox.

Schwarber's outing Tuesday was his 10th career start at first base.

Mattingly wasn't worried, at least publicly.

"These guys have played their whole life," Mattingly said. "These guys are baseball players.  Him going out there, he's gonna have fun out there."

He did, too.

Phillies' Kyle Schwarber takes over MLB HR lead

Entering Tuesday with 24 home runs, Schwarber was tied for first in the majors with Houston Astros triple-crown threat Yordan Alvarez. 

Schwarber capped the Phillies' scoring with a fourth-inning homer off starter Tyler Phillips (1-2). The solo blast lifted the Phillies to an eight-run lead, en route to clinching an 8-2 win.

Tuesday's homer was Schwarber's 212th with the Phillies, moving him into 10th place on the franchise's all-time homer list. Mike Schmidt is No. 1 with 548.

When examining a player's power impact, here are players who have compiled the most homers in their opening five seasons with a new club:

• Babe Ruth, New York Yankees, 235
• Mark McGwire, St. Louis Cardinals, 220
• Ralph Kiner, Pittsburgh Pirates, 215
• Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies, 212
• Alex Rodriguez, Yankees, 208
• David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox, 208
• Albert Pujols, Cardinals, 201

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