Ex-Red Sox Slugger Returns To Fenway Park Riding Historic Hot Streak

3 min read
Ex-Red Sox Slugger Returns To Fenway Park Riding Historic Hot Streak

Ex-Red Sox Slugger Returns To Fenway Park Riding Historic Hot Streak

Kyle Schwarber is off to a historic start for the Philadelphia Phillies this year.

Ex-Red Sox Slugger Returns To Fenway Park Riding Historic Hot Streak

Kyle Schwarber is off to a historic start for the Philadelphia Phillies this year.

Kyle Schwarber is coming home to Fenway Park, and he's bringing one of the hottest bats in baseball with him.

Nearly two years after his last game in Boston, the former Red Sox slugger returns to town as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies—and he's on an absolute tear. Riding a historic hot streak, Schwarber has smashed five home runs in his last four games, bringing his season total to a Major League-leading 16 dingers. That puts him on pace for a staggering 63 home runs this year.

For context, the entire Boston Red Sox roster has combined for just 29 home runs so far this season. Schwarber alone has more long balls than Boston's top two home run hitters combined. It's a jaw-dropping stat that highlights just how desperately the Red Sox could use a power bat like his.

Schwarber's connection to Boston runs deep. He joined the Red Sox at the trade deadline in 2021 and helped fuel their run to the ALCS that year. But when free agency came calling, he chose Philadelphia, signing a five-year, $150 million contract extension this past winter that made him one of the highest-paid designated hitters in the game.

Now 33 years old, Schwarber has evolved his approach at the plate to maximize his raw power. The results speak for themselves: since joining the Phillies, he's slugged the third-most home runs in all of baseball. His swing is built for Fenway Park, too—he's a career .344/.478/.644 hitter in 26 games at the iconic ballpark, with six home runs and nine doubles.

Tuesday's series opener against the Red Sox marks the start of a three-game set, but all eyes will be on Thursday's finale. That's when Schwarber is scheduled to face his former Phillies teammate, Ranger Suárez, who signed a similar contract with Boston last offseason. The Red Sox chose to invest in Suárez instead of bringing back Schwarber—a decision that looks questionable given the team's offensive struggles this year. Schwarber is 0-for-5 lifetime against Suárez, but with the way he's swinging the bat right now, that stat could change in a hurry.

The Red Sox pitching staff has allowed the eighth-most home runs in baseball this season, which means Schwarber will have plenty of opportunities to add to his historic totals. For a player who loves hitting at Fenway, this homecoming could be something special.

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