Kyle Schwarber just finished a Home Run Derby that didn’t go his way, and already reporters are asking about next year. The setting will be Wrigley Field, his old home ballpark, where he helped the Cubs end a 108-year championship drought. Poetic, right? Schwarber isn’t there yet.
When FOX Sports asked the Phillies slugger about his plans for the 2027 Derby, he didn’t talk about redemption or home-field advantage. He talked about getting home and cracking a beer.
“I’m just thinking about making it home tonight and having a beer,” Schwarber said, via Deesha Thosar of FOX Sports.
That’s about as honest as it gets after a long night of swinging. And it was a long night. Schwarber had the home crowd at Citizens Bank Park behind him, with the trophy seemingly within reach. Then Jordan Walker of the Cardinals happened. Walker smacked four homers with one swing left, erasing a three-home-run deficit and stunning the Phillies faithful. It was a breakout moment for Walker, who’s turned his season around. For Schwarber, it’s another Derby loss to add to 2018 and 2022.
A Beatdown That Took a Toll
The Derby isn’t just about hitting bombs in batting practice. It’s a grind. You’re on your feet for rounds, adrenaline pumping, then watching a guy string together moonshots while you stand in the on-deck circle. The crowd goes from cheering for you to gasping at the other guy. That emotional drain is real. Schwarber looked cooked by the end of it.
So when someone asked about 2027, he wasn’t exactly eager to sign up. A man needs a minute. Or a year. Or maybe more.
But here’s the thing: Wrigley wouldn’t be just another ballpark for him. Schwarber broke into the big leagues with the Cubs, became a folk hero during the 2016 run, and still gets love in Chicago. The Derby field would be packed with stars, but the crowd would be pulling for him. That kind of energy matters. It might even be enough to get him back in the ring.
He’s got time to think about it. The 2027 All-Star break is more than a year away. For now, he’s focused on the beer waiting at home. And honestly, after the night he had, nobody’s blaming him.
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