Power couple: 2018 Home Run Derby battle connects Harper, Schwarber forever

The 2018 Home Run Derby in Washington, D.C., provided the most electric finish in the history of the marquee event.

Bryce Harper of the Nationals vs. Kyle Schwarber of the Cubs. Another way of looking at it: The 2015 NL MVP and MLB superstar vs. the up-and-coming slugger who wasn’t even an All-Star yet.

Schwarber went first in the finals and crushed a respectable 18 home runs. Harper then struggled out of the gate, trailing 18-9 when he took his timeout with just 1:20 remaining on the four-minute timer.

What transpired over the final 80 seconds was an epic barrage that sent the hometown crowd into a frenzy. Harper tied it in the final moments, then won the Derby during his allotted bonus time.

Little did either know at the time, they would become teammates four years later.

So, now that the two have linked up to form the core of this current version of the Phillies -- have they ever talked about it?

“Honestly, we’ve never really sat down and reminisced about it,” Schwarber said. “But man, that was a lot of fun.”

Strangely enough, the player Schwarber defeated to reach the final was former Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins. That semifinal matchup produced the highest-scoring battle in that year’s Derby, with Schwarber capturing a 21-20 victory.

“It was funny because the whole crowd was going nuts and getting behind us when me and Rhys were going crazy,” Schwarber said. “Then, all of the sudden I get back out there for the next round against Harp -- and it’s in Washington -- and they’re just killing me. They’re giving it to me that whole last round.

“But it was really cool. I mean, who could have known we were all gonna be teammates?”

• Harper, Schwarber talk potential rematch in Home Run Derby

In some ways, though, Harper and Schwarber are still competing when it comes to home runs.

Both players have surpassed 350 career homers, and each has the 400 club squarely within his sights. It could happen within the next year — and that’s not all.

With Schwarber under contract through 2030 and Harper through ’31, it’s not unreasonable to think that the two could be chasing No. 500 together at some point down the road. Only 28 Major Leaguers are in the 500-home run club and only one (Mike Schmidt) hit No. 500 in a Phillies uniform.

Imagine telling Schwarber on that night back in 2018 that 500 homers -- or even 400 -- was a possibility.

“I’d say you’re absolutely crazy,” Schwarber said. “I mean, you have this dream to be a professional baseball player, but you never know, right? I knew there was potential and talent within myself, but the way things started out, I just didn’t know how everything was going to turn out.”

At that time, Schwarber had just 64 home runs to his name, and he had already been through so much in his professional career.

Selected fourth overall by the Cubs in 2014, Schwarber made his MLB debut just one year later in ’15 -- the same season in which Harper won his first NL MVP Award in unanimous fashion. Then, in 2016, Schwarber tore his ACL and LCL in the second game of the year.

Incredibly, he returned for Game 1 of the World Series after missing the entire regular season, and -- despite being sidelined for more than six months -- he went 7-for-17 (.412) with two RBIs to help the Cubs win their first title since 1908.

Only a few years later, however, he was non-tendered by the Cubs following the 2020 season. He signed a one-year, $10-million deal with the Nationals, then was traded to the Red Sox at the 2021 Trade Deadline.

He signed with the Phillies prior to the 2022 season -- and the rest is history.

“The thing about Kyle that is so impressive is he’s able to talk to so many guys in so many different walks of life in their career, because he’s gone through so many different walks of life in his own career, right?” Harper said. “From first-round pick, unbelievable college player, unbelievable Minor League player, going through a major ACL injury, coming back -- not just coming back, but coming back and raking in the postseason.

“Then he gets non-tendered, only to come back again, have a great year, and now, he’s molded himself into a premier home run hitter.”

At the time Schwarber signed with Philadelphia, his most homers in a single season was 38. His home run totals in his first four seasons with the Phillies: 46, 47, 38 and 56.

“It’s pretty cool to be able to play with a guy like that,” Harper said. “He’s had an incredible career thus far, and I’m just excited for him to get to that next level and do everything he can to be great at what he does.”

What even is the next level? Ryan Howard’s single-season franchise record of 58? Sixty?!

“Everyone always asks me, ‘Hey, how many home runs are you gonna hit this year?’ And I’m just like, ‘Man, come on, I don’t know, guys,’” Schwarber says with a laugh. “I just want to go up and have the best at-bat for the team; not ever make it about myself.”

As for Harper, the idea of joining the 400-home run club (and beyond) is equally crazy -- but for a different reason.

“It’s a lot, man. I mean, you think about the guys who have hit a lot of homers in this game, and it’s funny to even be mentioned in that category, because I don’t technically see myself as a home run hitter, you know?” Harper said. “I feel like I’m trying to hit doubles, and sometimes, I clip ’em just right and they turn into homers.”

And Schwarber?

“Oh, when Kyle hits a ball, it’s just gone,” Harper said.

If all goes to plan, Schwarber and Harper will be exchanging home runs for many seasons to come in Philadelphia -- much like that fateful Home Run Derby night eight years ago in D.C.

But Schwarber’s focus isn’t on beating Harper to 400 or 500 home runs. Or even getting to those milestones.

“I’ve got five more years here,” Schwarber said, “so I’m just excited to see wherever that goes, and see how many championships we can bring home.”