Kyle Schwarber is about to step into a Home Run Derby with the weight of an entire city on his back. And he’s bringing a childhood hero with him.
The Phillies slugger showed up on The Pat McAfee Show this week and dropped a gem that explains a lot about where his swing comes from. There’s a photo of him as a kid, ball on a tee, hat flipped backward, wood bat in hand, trying to copy Ken Griffey Jr.’s signature tilt. That posture, that swagger — it’s all Junior.
“We always played that growing up in the backyard,” Schwarber said. “We had an above-ground pool and then we had a short fence in left, so we called the fence Pesky, we called the pool out in right McCovey Cove and then the house we called the Green Monster. Just trying to hit homers left and right.”
Monday night at Citizens Bank Park, that backyard kid gets the full stage. Schwarber, who grew up a Reds fan in Ohio, leads all of baseball with 32 homers this season. He finished second in NL MVP voting last year. He’s the reigning All-Star Game MVP. And now he gets to chase his first Derby crown in front of a home crowd that will be absolutely rabid.
The Griffey Effect
Griffey won the Home Run Derby three times in his career, all with the Mariners. So Schwarber picked the right guy to imitate. The hat-backward thing, the effortless power, the way Junior made it look like a backyard game — Schwarber has carried that energy into the big leagues.
He came close once before. Back in 2018, Schwarber was on the verge of winning it all when Bryce Harper, his future teammate and a fellow participant this year, erupted late and stole the trophy. That still stings, probably. But this time feels different.
Motivation in the Stands
Philadelphia fans have a way of turning big moments into something louder than they already are. Schwarber knows what’s coming. The place will be shaking. He’s leaned into that energy all season, and Monday night is the kind of stage he was built for.
If he’s channeling Griffey — the smile, the hat, the swing — nobody in that field should feel safe. Schwarber can go on a heater like almost anyone. And with the crowd behind him, it might take something special to stop him.
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