Kyle Schwarber’s reputation as a power hitter has never been questioned. But in 2025, the Philadelphia Phillies slugger is getting attention for a totally different reason.
According to Schwarber, the metamorphosis began with an unlikely source: a classic story involving Hall of Fame pitcher Randy Johnson.
“You have to be prepared to die,” Schwarber told The Athletic’s Matt Gelb on May 13.
That startling phrase, credited to an anonymous hitter recalling his experience against Johnson, left an indelible impression on Schwarber. While the sentiment appeared to be hyperbole at first, Schwarber eventually realized it was a driving concept.
Rather of dismissing it as folklore, he embraced it as a philosophy that would eventually transform his career.
Schwarber’s massive turnaround against left-handed pitching
Schwarber, who had long been considered as a liability in left-on-left matchups, worked hard to change that perception.
The first noticeable step came in late 2023, when he asked to wear a C-Flap helmet, a piece of protective equipment used by certain hitters to boost confidence against high-velocity, inside pitches. The move represented his will to confront his inadequacies head on.
By early 2024, that mindset transformation had begun to translate into on-field performance. In one memorable moment, Schwarber refused to sit against Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale, whose delivery and intimidation factor prompted comparisons to a young Johnson. Schwarber remained in the lineup and answered with a home run, signaling a shift in his approach.
The results are undeniable this season for the Phillies
Kyle Schwarber is enjoying a breakout year against left-handed pitching in 2025, putting up the best numbers of his career in those matchups. He’s currently batting .321 with a .446 on-base percentage and an eye-popping .774 slugging percentage versus southpaws.
Remarkably, half of his 14 home runs this season have come against left-handed pitchers. Since the start of 2024, no other left-handed hitter in the majors has faced more lefty-on-lefty matchups—or done more damage—than Schwarber.
His newfound reliability against left-handed arms has dramatically influenced the Phillies’ lineup strategy. Manager Rob Thomson now sees Schwarber not as a platoon option, but as a constant presence in the heart of the batting order, regardless of who’s on the mound.
This flexibility has been especially valuable in protecting Bryce Harper, as opposing teams frequently turn to lefty relievers late in games.
While much of the focus has been on Schwarber’s mental transformation, a big part of the shift came through behind-the-scenes work with hitting coach Kevin Long. Together, they revamped Schwarber’s mechanics—streamlining his swing, honing pitch recognition, and logging reps against high-velocity machines that replicate left-handed deliveries.
“He has this uncanny ability to force himself to achieve things people say he can’t,” Long noted.
The results have not only boosted Schwarber’s personal reputation but also reshaped how he’s viewed across the league. Once pigeonholed as a limited power bat, he’s now seen as a versatile and dangerous offensive force.
And at the heart of this turnaround? A mysterious quote about one of baseball’s most intimidating pitchers—an odd, almost legendary anecdote that’s become the surprising catalyst behind one of the year’s most compelling comeback stories.
For Schwarber and the Phillies, it’s a reminder that the most powerful lessons can emerge from the unlikeliest sources.