Phillies vs Cubs: 2016 Kyle Schwarber

You would be hard pressed to have a more up and down year than what Kyle Schwarber went through in 2016. Coming off a solid rookie year and big expectations for the Cubs as an organization, things went wrong almost immediately…

Tuesday, April 14 at 6:40p – Aaron Nola v Riley Martin (L) (bullpen game)
Wednesday, April 15 at 6:40p – Jesus Luzardo v Shota Imanaga (L)
Citizen’s Bank Park – Philadelphia, PA

There are two things to remember about the Kyle Schwarber story when he came up. First, he was a catcher. Second, there was no DH in the NL. After 21 games behind the dish as a rookie, that experiment had ended. Despite not exactly being a savant in the outfield either, his 5 post season HRs as a rookie meant that there was no chance of keeping him off the field. That’s how Schwarber came to play LF on Opening Day 2016. He went 0-4 in an uneventful 9-0 Cubs win.

After skipping Game 2, Kyle was back in the lineup for Game 3. He worked a full count walk in his first at bat then headed to the field in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Jean Segura of all people was at the plate with two outs and hit a flyball to the gap in left center. Both Schwarber and CF Dexter Fowler were closing in on the ball when Schwarber went high and Fowler went low, right into Schwarber’s left knee. The result was an inside-the-park-homerun for Segura and a torn ACL and LCL for Schwarber. His season was over.

What Happened to the 2016 Chicago Cubs?

I mean, they said it was over and usually it’s over, but was it really over? The Cubs ended up with the best record in the Majors by a lot at 103-58-1. Unexpectedly, Kyle healed much better than expected and there was hope that he may be able to rejoin the team at some point in the playoffs. While the Cubs were handling the Giants 3-1 in the NLDS, Kyle was getting his final clearance to start practicing. Instead of being with the team for the NLCS though, Schwarber joined the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League to get some live swings in. In two games, he had a double and two walks. If the Cubs made it to the World Series, Schwarber would be ready to play. With the Cubs up 3-2 on the Dodgers in the NLCS, Kyle and his Solar Sox teammates watched the Cubs win. Wearing a full Cubs uniform in Arizona, his teammates doused him in champagne because he too would be going to the World Series.¹

Games 1, 2, 6, and 7 would be played in Cleveland meaning Kyle could play DH. He went 1-3 with a walk and a double in a Game 1 loss. That hit made him the first position player ever to get his first hit of the season during the World Series. He followed that up with 2 hits and another walk in a Game 2 win. Games 3-5 though, he only managed a single pinch hit and the Cubs went down 3 games to 2. Back in the lineup for Game 6, Schwarber went 1-4 with a 3rd walk of the Series and the Cubs tied things up.

What followed was just about the most gut wrenching game possible. The Cubs were up 1-0, 5-1, and then 6-3 in the bottom of the 8th before Cleveland tied it up and sent the game to extras. Already 2-4 in the game, Schwarber led off the 10th inning with a single to RF and was lifted for a pinch runner, Albert Almora. Two batters later, Ben Zobrist hit a double to score Almora and the Cubs took the lead. Much drama later and the Cubs were the World Series Champions for the first time since 1908. Schwarber would hit .412 with a .500 OBP for the Series.

Phillies Re-Sign Kyle Schwarber

Of course, things weren’t the best for Kyle in Chicago after that. He hit 38 HRs in 2019 but underperformed in the Covid season and was not tendered a contract that offseason during the great Cubs dismantling. He would sign with the Nationals and resurrect his career before being traded to the Red Sox. Philadelphia then scooped him up and the rest is history. Now at 33 years old and in his second mega contract with the Phillies, he is playing the best ball of his career.

Stats: Baseball Reference

Photo: