Kyle Schwarber is a Designated Hitter with a capital D and a capital H.
His defense last season was disastrous, and the Phillies lineup has made much more sense since the slugger slid into the DH role once Bryce Harper was cleared to play first base last summer.
Still, Schwarber seems to take pride in giving the outfield his best shot, and Philadelphia gave him his first chance to do that on Wednesday. He held his own in his first appearance of the year in left field, making four putouts in four chances, including the game-sealing catch. Schwarber also went 2-for-4 at the plate, his two-run single in the second inning lifting the Phillies to a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim.
It’ll likely be a rare occurrence to see Schwarber in the field in 2024. Shortstop Trea Turner served as the DH on Wednesday, pushing Schwarber to left as the Phillies shuffled reserve righties into the lineup. Schwarber’s defense hurt the Phillies last year. He recorded negative-19 outs above average in only 103 games. The move to DH was a good one for all involved.
But it’s a good sign that he is still willing and able to play left once in a while. Schwarber looks to be moving better. He’s still only in the seventh percentile in sprint speed, according to Statcast, his same rank as last season, but he appears to be more nimble, more comfortable and to trust his legs more. He stole a base against the Angels, his second of the year. He had none last season.
Of course, Schwarber is no speedster. If his defense is playing any sort of role down the stretch or in a potential playoff situation, then something went totally wrong in Philadelphia. But that fact that he appears more healthy with his legs under him is a plus for the Phillies, who rely on Schwarber to carry a heavy load on offense.
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