CLEVELAND — It’s been a long time since Kyle Schwarber went an entire game without reaching base.
The Phillies’ designated hitter has reached safely in 45 consecutive games dating back to last year, including the team’s first 39 games this season.
It’s the longest streak in the majors since New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge went 45 games early in the 2023 season.
“It’s impressive because I see him now as a complete hitter,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson stated. “He uses the entire field. He goes for walks but clearly wields great power. He’s been particularly impressive during this stretch.
“You understand, it’s not hits. It is not DiMaggio. But it’s extremely important.”
Joe DiMaggio, of course, established a major league record with his 56-game hitting streak for the Yankees in 1941.
Schwarber’s on-base streak was extended with an RBI single in the fourth inning of Saturday’s 7-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians. This ties him with Odubel Herrera for the fourth-longest streak in Phillies history. Mike Schmidt set the club record of 56 consecutive games from August 16, 1981, to May 8, 1982.
Schwarber is also two games away from matching Herrera’s 2018 team record for consecutive games on base to start a season.
“To be honest, I didn’t realize anything about it. “And then it caught on,” Schwarber explained. “My job at the plate is to move the runners and drive them in. I want to get to my pitch, and I don’t want to help them out by going to their pitches and such, and I’m really trying to stay in the zone. I’ll go for a walk and if I get hits, that’s great.”
According to Baseball Reference.com, this is the 26th time a player has had at least 45 consecutive on-base games since 2000. Orlando Cabrera, of the Los Angeles Angels, played 63 games in 2006.
Schwarber’s longest on-base streak before last season was 31 games in 2022.
Thomson, a Yankees coach from 2008 to 2017, sees many similarities between Schwarber and Judge.
“Judge and Schwarber see the ball very early out of the pitcher’s hand. That’s a bonus for the guys. Thomson added, “And they understand the strike zone.”
