When it comes to slugger Kyle Schwarber, both the Philadelphia Phillies and their fans are well aware of the major impact he’s had on the team’s offense during his time with the club. Averaging close to 40 home runs and 100 RBIs per season while drawing over 100 walks, Schwarber perfectly embodies what it means to be an elite run producer.
Despite his success, Schwarber has traditionally struggled in one key area throughout his MLB career: hitting against left-handed pitching. Along with his well-known tendency to strike out often, he has posted an OPS nearly 100 points lower against lefties compared to righties. Additionally, Schwarber has averaged a home run every 19 at-bats against left-handers, while hitting one roughly every 12 at-bats against right-handers. He’s also struck out nearly five percent more often against lefties.
However, last season, Schwarber seemed to conquer his long-standing weakness. In 2024, he batted a strong .300 with an .898 OPS against lefties — while hitting just .218 with an .824 OPS against righties. Heading into the 2025 season, that gap has widened even more dramatically.
Kyle Schwarber’s mind-boggling batting splits make zero sense
In 2025, Schwarber has continued to dominate left-handed pitching but has seen a steep decline in his performance against right-handers, which had historically been his strength.
Before the Phillies’ Sunday Night Baseball matchup against the Chicago Cubs (after snapping a five-game losing streak), Schwarber was hitting a scorching .343 with a 1.260 OPS against lefties, including a home run roughly every eight at-bats. Meanwhile, he was struggling to a .197 batting average and .716 OPS against righties, managing just one homer roughly every 20 at-bats.
These days, Schwarber crushing lefties is no longer a rare occurrence — it’s become the norm.
This dramatic and confusing shift in his splits raises questions. Has Schwarber made adjustments so focused on handling lefties that it’s thrown off his approach against right-handers? It’s always encouraging to see a player turn a weakness into a strength, but it’s concerning if it comes at the cost of losing what was once a major advantage.
Still, Phillies fans are hopeful that Schwarber will eventually even things out as the season goes on. Even if his numbers against lefties cool off a bit, regaining his production against right-handers would turn him into a true threat against any pitcher.
If Schwarber can find that balance, the 32-year-old could be poised for a massive season — one that could help transform the Phillies from one of MLB’s top offenses into the absolute best.