Phillies Receive Kyle Schwarber News Ahead of Opening Day

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Mar 19, 2026 1:03 PM ET

The Philadelphia Phillies are preparing for the upcoming MLB season hoping that their aging core can finally deliver in October. Fortunately, they brought back their best offensive player from 2025 in free agency this winter: Kyle Schwarber.

He signed a new five‑year, $150 million deal to remain in Philadelphia. It makes sense why he earned such a massive contract given what he accomplished last year.

The 33‑year‑old designated hitter finished runner‑up in National League MVP voting and earned his third career All‑Star selection. Schwarber posted a .240 batting average, .365 on‑base percentage and .928 OPS, along with an NL‑best 56 home runs and an MLB‑leading 132 RBIs.

He also played in all 162 games, which was crucial for a Phillies lineup that dealt with injuries to everyday starters such as Bryce Harper and Trea Turner.

Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12)© Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

As Schwarber prepares for what will be his fifth season with the Phillies, he had been away from the organization while competing in this year’s World Baseball Classic for Team USA. Across seven appearances, Schwarber put together a strong individual showing, going eight‑for‑25 with one home run, three RBIs and six walks.

Team USA ultimately fell short in the final against Venezuela. This marked his second appearance in the international tournament after also representing the United States in 2023, when he lost in the championship game to Japan.

Now Schwarber’s focus shifts back to the Phillies. He was not in the lineup Wednesday for their spring training game against the Atlanta Braves, but he is expected to return soon after officially reporting back to camp. As Ty Daubert of Phillies Nation noted, “Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Brad Keller are back in Phillies camp after competing for Team USA.”

Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Brad Keller are back in Phillies camp after competing for Team USA.
— Ty Daubert (@TyDaubert) March 19, 2026

This is significant because Schwarber is the engine of Philadelphia’s offense, and getting him back in camp allows the team to finalize its lineup structure before Opening Day.

With Schwarber returning, his attention will now turn toward carrying last year’s success into the regular season. Philadelphia is aiming for its third straight NL East title, but the real goal is reversing its recent October struggles after back‑to‑back Division Series exits.

If the Phillies are finally going to break through, Schwarber’s bat will once again be at the center of that push.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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