Phillies Surge in 2025, Harper Urges Team to Keep Schwarber in Philly
As the 2025 MLB season heads into June, the Philadelphia Phillies are making waves as a top contender for the World Series. Riding high with a 36-20 record after 56 games, the Phillies currently lead the National League, driven by a collective team effort and the lingering motivation of last October’s playoff elimination by the New York Mets in the NL Division Series.
A significant factor behind Philadelphia’s success this season has been the continued dominance of their veteran core—particularly designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, whose stellar play has caught the attention of team leader Bryce Harper. Harper, never shy about voicing his thoughts on the future of the franchise, is campaigning for the Phillies to re-sign Schwarber before his contract expires.
Harper Makes His Case for Schwarber’s Return
Speaking with the Philadelphia Inquirer, Harper emphasized the importance of keeping Schwarber in the clubhouse beyond 2025.
“I don’t see (Schwarber) playing anywhere else. Obviously, I don’t make those decisions,” Harper said. “As a team leader and a captain and everything else, he brings so much value to our team—not only on the field, but off the field as well.”
The 2025 season marks the final year of Schwarber’s four-year, $79 million deal that he signed with the Phillies in March 2022. Since joining the team, the slugger has been a consistent power presence, earning fan-favorite status and becoming a fixture in the middle of the lineup. In his first season in Philadelphia, Schwarber led the National League with 46 home runs. He followed that with 47 homers in 2023 and another 38 in 2024, while impressively recording exactly 104 RBIs in each of those seasons.
Schwarber’s 2025 Season: A Career Milestone and More
Now 32, Schwarber shows no signs of slowing down. Through 56 games and 202 at-bats this season, he’s already tallied 19 home runs, 41 RBIs, and 43 walks while slashing .252/.394/.569. His power remains elite, as highlighted by a monster 466-foot homer he hit against the Colorado Rockies on May 19—his 300th career home run.
His performance has reinforced the sentiment among both fans and teammates that Schwarber is indispensable. Producing at this level into his early 30s, he continues to be one of the premier designated hitters in Major League Baseball. Without his bat in the lineup, it’s hard to imagine Philadelphia being as strong a title contender as they are now.
Front Office Shares the Sentiment
Fortunately for Harper and Phillies supporters, the organization seems aligned in its desire to keep Schwarber around for the long haul. Team president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski recently addressed the topic during an appearance on The Show, expressing hope that the veteran slugger’s future remains in Philadelphia.
“I mean, we’d love to keep (Schwarber) as part of the organization for the long term, there’s no doubt,” Dombrowski said. “I’m sure there’ll be a lot of other clubs that are interested in him, too, but we’d love to keep him as part of the organization and hope that it happens.”
Looking Ahead: A Crucial Piece of the Championship Puzzle
Schwarber’s value goes beyond his stats—he’s a respected leader and clubhouse presence, attributes Harper highlighted as irreplaceable. While his contract status looms over the remainder of the season, it’s clear that the Phillies view him as a core piece worth retaining, possibly through the end of his career.
As June begins, the Phillies hold one of the top spots in World Series futures, currently tied for third-best championship odds at +950 on FanDuel Sportsbook. With a potent lineup, veteran leadership, and one of the game’s most feared designated hitters, Philadelphia appears primed for a deep postseason run.
And if Harper has his way, Kyle Schwarber will be a part of that journey for years to come.
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