SEATTLE — Kyle Schwarber is the charter member of the 40-Homer Club for 2026.
Wait, you expected someone else?
Schwarber became the majors’ first player to get to 40 home runs with a titanic three-run shot to right-center field in the second inning here Wednesday. It gave the Phillies a six-run lead, as they tried to avoid a sweep by the Mariners.
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It’s the second season in a row that Schwarber reached the 40-homer mark. He led the National League last season with a career-high 56 homers. He hit 46 and 47, respectively, in his first two seasons with the Phillies.
Schwarber was also the first player to 30 homers this season. But his pace cooled considerably through the summer, as he dealt with a sore lower back.
After snapping a drought of 78 plate appearances without a homer on Aug. 9, Schwarber has seven homers in 75 plate appearances over his last 16 games.
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Tony Gwynn Jr. is a former major league outfielder and son of late Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn. Over the last two years, he got to know new Phillies second baseman Luis Arraez, whose contact skills at the plate often draw comparisons to Gwynn. Tony Jr. joined Phillies Extra to discuss his father, Arraez, and the bonds that connect them. Watch here.
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Previous episodes: Kevin Stocker | Bobby Dickerson | Jim Bowden | John Middleton | Ryan Howard | Dan Baker | Ricky Bottalico | Preston Mattingly | Caleb Cotham | Larry Bowa
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