The Philadelphia Phillies endured another disappointing finish this season, though it wasn’t due to a lack of standout performances.
For the second year in a row, the Phillies dominated the regular season and captured the National League East title, only to fall short in the playoffs after just one postseason win. While the team will need to reassess its roster over the offseason, there was at least some positive news involving two of its stars.
Pitcher Cristopher Sanchez was named a finalist for the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) National League Cy Young Award, while designated hitter Kyle Schwarber earned a finalist nod for the BBWAA National League Most Valuable Player Award.
Although neither player is expected to win, Schwarber’s MVP nomination stands out since he doesn’t play a defensive position. Designated hitters have claimed the MVP just three times in MLB history—the fewest of any position—but Schwarber’s remarkable 56 home runs and 132 RBIs made his recognition well deserved.
“It’s hard to complain,” Schwarber said during an appearance on MLB Network on Monday.
That brief remark seemed to show his awareness that he’s likely an afterthought in the MVP race behind Los Angeles Dodgers two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani.
Ohtani, who serves as a designated hitter when he’s not pitching, put together another dominant season both at the plate and on the mound, positioning himself to claim what would be his fourth career MVP award.
“As long as he stays healthy and doesn’t hit the first slump of his career, we might as well rename the MVP award after Los Angeles Dodgers DH and starter Shohei Ohtani,” wrote Bob Nightengale of USA Today. “Honestly, the only suspense each year is who finishes second. This time, it’s clearly Schwarber. If not for Ohtani’s brilliance, Schwarber would embody what an MVP truly is.”
Following an exceptional season with the Phillies, Schwarber put up offensive numbers that would usually make him a strong MVP candidate. But with Ohtani in the mix, Schwarber appears to recognize that focusing solely on hitting won’t be enough to take home the honor.