May 26, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (7) and second baseman Bryson Stott (5) celebrate after scoring with designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) against the Atlanta Braves in the third inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports Brett Davis
The never-ending debate about whether Kyle Schwarber should be the leadoff hitter for the Phillies has new life.
In his year-end press conference Tuesday, manager Rob Thomson admitted that the Phillies will consider tweaking how they arrange their lineup in 2025, including whether it makes sense to continue to have Schwarber lead off.
"Well, the lineup construction, we're gonna go through that and try and figure out a better way to score runs on a consistent basis a little bit more," Thomson said.
"Is there a different way? Is it best to have Kyle in the leadoff spot? Don't know," Thomson added. "We've won a lot of games with him in the leadoff spot. So we gotta really think about this."
Schwarber's third season with the Phillies was probably his most complete. He homered 38 times, including setting a new single-season MLB record with 15 leadoff home runs during the regular season. (He added a 16th in Game 1 of the NLDS.) He drove in 104 runs. He drew an NL-leading 106 walks. He did still strike out 197 times, although that was down from 215 the prior season. And after hitting .207 across his first two seasons with the Phillies, Schwarber hit .248 in 2024.
KYLE. SCHWARBER. 💣
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So the terms of this debate have changed. It's no longer "Is Schwarber a leadoff hitter?" Instead, the question is "Do you maximize your lineup's potential with Schwarber leading off?"
Given where the Phillies' roster currently stands, it does feel like Schwarber is best served leading off, particularly if you want to break up your lefties. If Harper is willing to consider hitting first or second in the lineup, then maybe there's a different conversation to be had. He prefers to hit third. Unless you're going to use back-to-back lefties, if Schwarber isn't leading off and Harper is still hitting third, that would push Schwarber back to the No. 5 hole. That doesn't make any sense.
Schwarber (.300) and Harper (.301) did both hit extremely well against lefties this season. Maybe then there's a case to be made that they could hit back-to-back in the lineup, because even if a lefty specialist comes in out of the bullpen to face them, the two can handle it.
Still, you're left then to wonder who would lead off. One would think it would either be Trea Turner or Bryson Stott.
Thomson was asked Tuesday whether he believes the leadoff hitter, if it's not Schwarber, is already employed by the Phillies.
"Well, I think it would be here now," Thomson said. "Some people may have to change their approach a little bit. But again, I don't know if that's the best thing to do is to move Kyle out of the leadoff spot, because he's really good at it. But it may help protect other people."
Both Thomson and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski talked Tuesday about the need for players like Stott and Turner to see pitches, hit the ball to the opposite field and use their speed once they get on. In that spirit, it's entirely possible one of those two might get the first crack at leading off in 2025.
But in three seasons with Schwarber leading off, the Phillies have gotten pretty damn good results. It will be hard not to revert to that set-up if Stott and/or Turner doesn't seize the leadoff spot early in 2025.
