Slugger Kyle Schwarber reaches 40 home runs for 4th season with Phillies

SEATTLE (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber hit his MLB-leading 40th home run Wednesday.

Schwarber drove a 98-mph fastball off Seattle starter Bryan Woo approximately 425 feet into right-center field, a three-run shot that gave the Phillies a six-run lead over the Mariners in the second inning.

Schwarber finished with two hits, including a lead-off double in the first in the Phillies’ 6-0 win.

Schwarber’s homer tied a Phillies record for the most 40-plus homer seasons, matching former first baseman Ryan Howard. The 33-year-old Schwarber, who hit 56 homers last season, is also tied for the most 40-plus homer seasons among active players with Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees.

“Obviously it’s a good thing because that means hopefully you’re producing runs for your team,” Schwarber said. “It’s not more about going out there and trying to achieve or attain a certain number. It’s more trying to stack as many at-bats as you can to keep trying to help the team win.”

Schwarber’s 227 homers with Philadelphia are the second-most in a player’s first five seasons with a club. He trails only Babe Ruth, who had 235 homers with the New York Yankees. Schwarber, who spent six years with the Chicago Cubs, has 380 career homers.

Matt Olson (Braves) and Yordan Alvarez (Astros) trail Schwarber in homers with 36 each.

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