DETROIT -- If there’s a Home Run Derby on Monday night at Citizens Bank Park and Kyle Schwarber isn’t a participant, is it really a Home Run Derby?
Don’t worry, Schwarber announced on Friday that he will be joining fellow Phillies teammate Bryce Harper in the T-Mobile Home Run Derby on July 13.
“I think it’s good -- Kyle and Bryce,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said before Friday night’s game in Detroit. “I think it’s cool for the city. These guys being in it should be fun.”
Schwarber, when asked who Phillies fans might root for in a potential finals matchup between him and Harper, said, “I believe each of us. They’d definitely root for both of us. I think it’d just be a straight cheer factory. So, it wouldn’t be anyone against anyone. It’d be pretty cool.”
Harper said, “Yeah, it should be fun. Obviously, two teammates doing it at the same time. I’d imagine we’re probably on separate sides of the bracket if I had to guess -- just in case we get [to the finals].
“But there’s a lot of really good guys that can hit homers.”
Schwarber entered Friday leading MLB with 32 home runs. Since making his big league debut with the Cubs in 2015, he has become an elite home run hitter. He signed with the Phillies in March 2022, hitting the second most home runs in MLB during that span, behind only the Yankees’ Aaron Judge.
Schwarber said he “wanted to make sure everything was good health-wise” coming off the Phillies’ previous series in Cincinnati before deciding to compete.
“But everything’s been trending the right way,” said Schwarber.
Schwarber reached the finals of the 2018 Home Run Derby at Nationals Park, losing to his future teammate in Harper. He smiled when asked about possibly matching up against Harper again.
“That would be fun,” said Schwarber. “I think it would be awesome. Especially in Philadelphia, where our fans obviously are going to get a chance to show what they’re capable of, and what we’ve seen for years and years of pure electricity.
“So, I think it would be a pretty cool ending there. That could happen, but hopefully we’ll see what happens.”
Harper debated whether or not to compete, but said, “I was just thinking of doing it for the fans. I wasn’t really looking forward to it, to tell you the truth. But being able to do it for the fans and do it at home, turned me to the point where I wanted to do it.”
Why wasn’t he looking forward to it?
“I already won it,” said Harper. “I already did it. But knowing the fans wanted me to do it sparked my interest. It’s not something I need on my mantle, but if I’m going into it, I’m going to be ready to go and want to win.”
2018 was also the last time that teammates took part in the Home Run Derby, when it featured the Cubs' Javier Báez and Schwarber. Báez is currently on the injured list for the Tigers.
Schwarber also participated in the 2022 Home Run Derby, but lost in the first round to three-time NL MVP Albert Pujols, who retired following the campaign with 703 career homers.
Fans sitting in right field at Citizens Bank Park on Monday should keep their eyes open when Schwarber hits. They might want to bring a glove, too. His home runs this season have left his bat at an average of 106.6 mph, which is tied for 18th out of 120 players with 10 or more home runs.
Schwarber’s bombs also travel an average of 404 feet, which is tied for 32nd. He has hit two of the 20 longest homers in baseball this year: 460 feet in Colorado on April 3 (12th longest) and 457 feet (tied for 19th) on June 20 at the Bank.
Schwarber said he’ll have Phillies assistant hitting coach Rafael Pena throw to him in the Derby.
“I’ve hit off him in the cage the last two years, and he makes the most sense,” said Schwarber.
Harper had his father, Ron Harper, throw to him in 2018 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. However, this time, Los Angeles Dodgers third-base coach Dino Ebel, who got acquainted with Harper while coaching Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, will pitch to him.
“He’s pretty dang good at it,” said Harper. “So, it’ll be fun. The tough part will be not being able to practice with him before the Derby. So, we’ll go into it a bit blind.”
Schwarber likes the rule changes that MLB implemented for Monday’s Derby that remove time limits for getting in your swings, while Harper would prefer a time clock.
“That was one of the things that bothered me about it,” Harper said of considering not participating. “The clock, I really liked it. I know a lot of guys didn’t like it because they got tired. I didn’t see it that way. The clock brings that theater part to it.
“I think the 18 swings are going to take a lot longer. So, the fans will be in for a long night.”
He also suggested to MLB using aluminum bats for the “golden-ball round” but that isn’t happening.
“Seeing a ball go way up into the third deck, over Ashburn Alley or off the scoreboard I think would’ve gotten a lot of eyes on it in a way they haven’t had beside the steroid era,” said Harper, noting the extra velocity aluminum bats bring opposed to conventional wood bats. “People want to see that kind of homer.
Schwarber said he won’t “feel as rushed” as in past Derbies, adding, “It gives the fans the opportunity to follow the ball and actually see where it lands -- which I’m kind of a fan of.”