Former Boston Red Sox and current Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber made history with his latest National League-leading big fly on Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays at Citizens Bank Park.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Schwarber took Julian Merryweather’s 95 mph 1-2 pitch off the second deck advertisement sign for his 40th home run of the season. According to NBC Sports Philadelphia’s live coverage, the round-tripper went 400 feet at an exit velocity of 108.9 mph.
However, the three-run blast didn’t just mark Schwarber’s new career-high, it also put him in the organization’s history books. According to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb, Schwarber became the 14th player in Phillies history to hit 40 homers in a single season and the first since 2006 NL MVP Ryan Howard did so in 2009.
Just recently, on Sept. 16, the 29-year-old veteran broke his previously set career-best by launching No. 39 against the Atlanta Braves.
Schwarber finished 2-for-3 at the plate in the contest.
While Tuesday’s home run didn’t do much justice by the Phillies — who ultimately fell to the Blue Jays, 18-11, in their high-scoring affair — Schwarber’s new squad remains in the October hunt. Philadelphia, following Tuesday’s loss, sits 80-67 and remains ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers by two games for the final NL wild card playoff spot.
