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Kyle Schwarber Turns Old Mets Heartbreak Into Phillies Motivation

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated Oct 1, 2025 1:49 PM ET

Kyle Schwarber admits the New York Mets schooled him. In his rookie season with the Cubs, he got a harsh lesson from the Mets in October. Watching the Mets take on the Los Angeles Dodgers, Schwarber and the Cubs rooted to face the Mets. After all, the Cubs had swept the Mets in the regular season.

In the ultimate lesson about being careful what you wish for, the Cubs got the Mets in the 215 National League Championship Series.

“We never had a lead,” Schwarber said of getting swept by the Mets in that series.

But it taught him how to carry yourself in playoff pressure. “They taught me how important the moment is,” Schwarber said on MLB Network Radio Wednesday morning. “Every pitch matters. Every at-bat. It doesn’t take long to realize you can’t take anything for granted.”

Now with the Phillies, he’s not just smarter—he’s stronger, louder, more experienced. He’s a leader in a clubhouse chasing another October run.

A Season to Back Up the Narrative

It hasn’t been a warm-up act. In 2025, Schwarber put up monster power numbers: 56 home runs (second in MLB) and 132 RBIs (first in the National League). He’s also punched a .946 OPS—elite company. His Statcast profile shows a hard-hit rate over 54%, a barrel percentage north of 20%, and exit velocities that translate into dead-center punishment for opposing pitchers.

Schwarber is the engine powering the Phillies' offense.

Scrimmage Serious Business

While the rest of MLB scrambles through the Wild Card round, the Phillies have the luxury of waiting to see who they’ll play. But to stay sharp, they’re staging an intrasquad scrimmage Tuesday night, and it’s not your average batting practice. They’ve sold out 30,000 tickets.

“Last year, we had a scrimmage and it was serious— we made sure it felt like a real game,” Schwarber said. “Now, add in 30,000 Phillies fans—I can’t wait to see that.”