He remains one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball every time he steps into the batter’s box. As of Thursday, the 32-year-old Philadelphia Phillies slugger and two-time All-Star trails only Dodgers MVP Shohei Ohtani in the National League home run race with 19, and he ranks among the league’s elite in terms of raw power.
A crucial part of the Phillies’ success, He has been especially productive in wins, belting 15 home runs and posting an incredible 1.044 OPS. In losses, he’s still solid, with four homers and an .831 OPS. However, his value is concentrated in his power and ability to draw walks—he doesn’t contribute much beyond those two areas.
FTC, Flight team stand up … It’s JUUUUUUNE!
Enter June Kyle Schwarber. pic.twitter.com/zXuS6MVVua
— MLB (@MLB) June 1, 2025
One-third of Schwarber’s 57 hits this season have left the park, matching Ohtani’s home run ratio, though Ohtani holds the edge in total homers, stolen bases, and runs scored. Schwarber’s 16.2% walk rate places him among the league leaders, and over 40% of his plate appearances end in a walk or strikeout.
He exemplifies the “Three True Outcomes” player—a hitter whose at-bats almost always end in a home run, walk, or strikeout. He also provides no real value defensively, having served as the designated hitter in 56 of the 60 games he’s played this year.
Set to hit free agency after the season, Schwarber could be in line for a contract worth around \$100 million. While his skill set is limited, consisting mainly of power and plate discipline, those abilities are elite.
So, is he worth that kind of money?
In short: Yes.
Kyle Schwarber’s strengths—namely his elite power and impressive ability to draw walks—largely compensate for his high strikeout rate, frequent swings at pitches outside the zone, and lack of defensive contributions.
According to Statcast, Schwarber ranks in the 90th percentile or higher in key offensive metrics like average exit velocity, bat speed, barrel rate, walk rate, and expected on-base and slugging percentages. His 2.3 WAR, as reported by Baseball-Reference, ties him with ace Zack Wheeler for the team lead, ahead of bigger-name teammates such as Bryce Harper and Trea Turner.
Despite his production, there are significant concerns when considering a long-term, high-value deal for Schwarber. Outside of Shohei Ohtani—who’s an outlier due to his two-way talent—no designated hitter has received a contract exceeding $100 million.
Consider the case of Masataka Yoshida, who signed a five-year, $90 million deal with the Red Sox before the 2023 season. Primarily a DH due to a shoulder injury that eventually required surgery, Yoshida has posted decent power and a solid .775 OPS in 248 games, but hasn’t proven to be a reliable long-term investment.
Another relevant example is Yordan Álvarez of the Astros. Now 27, Álvarez is mainly a DH and is in the third year of a six-year, $115 million extension. His average annual salary of $26.8 million is likely close to what Schwarber will be seeking. However, Álvarez is currently sidelined with a hand injury, underscoring the risk of committing big money to players who rely solely on offense.
Given these red flags, the Phillies might be hesitant to meet Schwarber’s market value, especially with pressing contract decisions ahead on J.T. Realmuto and Ranger Suárez. Still, Schwarber’s offensive output is so potent—even as he enters his 30s—that some team is likely to take the gamble, even if Philadelphia chooses not to. The question remains whether his limited but elite skill set will be enough to land one last major payday this winter.
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