Kyle Schwarber homers in his first at-bat of 2026 season for Phillies

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Kyle Schwarber, a former Middletown High School standout, hit a home run in his first at-bat of the 2026 MLB season in the 1st inning of the Philadelphia Phillies' game against the Texas Rangers at Citizens Bank Park.

Schwarber hit a career-best and National League-leading 56 home runs in 2025.

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Schwarber played for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic in March.

In December, Schwarber reached a five-year, $150 million deal with the Phillies.

Video of Schwarber's first homer of the season from MLB via Twitter/X:

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper told reporters Feb. 15 that he was surprised Schwarber opted to return to Philadelphia instead of leaving in free agency for his hometown Cincinnati Reds.

Schwarber, who starred for the Indiana University baseball team before starting his MLB career, celebrated the Hoosiers' win in the College Football Playoff championship game by sharing a photo of confetti falling at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium.

In November, Middletown High School hosted an event to celebrate Schwarber's baseball accomplishments and community commitment in a free, public event. Days earlier, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine urged the Reds to sign Schwarber.

Earlier in the WBC, Reds infielder Eugenio Suarez's attempt to catch the bat of teammate Wilyer Abreu after Abreu flipped it high in the air on a go-ahead, Team Venezuela home run in a WBC quarterfinal against Japan left many Reds' fans wincing as they hoped Suarez would avoid injury.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Kyle Schwarber homers in his first at-bat of 2026 season for Phillies

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