Kyle Schwarber had an excellent playoff run at the plate and was nominated Wednesday for two post-season Esurance MLB Awards. Schwarber is up for Best Major Leaguer in the Post-Season and Best Play, Offense.
According to the report from Adam Berry, Schwarber hit “two of the three longest home runs of the post-season.” Schwarber’s moonshot that ended up atop the right field video board in Game 4 of the NLDS was nominated for the best offensive play in the post-season. The ball that was encased has since been removed from its perch in right field.
Voting is open through Nov. 13 at mlb.com/awards. The winners will be announced Nov. 20 on MLB Network.
After batting .246/.355/.487 in his first 69 games in the big leagues with six doubles, a triple and 16 home runs for a .842 OPS, Kyle Schwarber shined in three rounds of post-season play at the plate. Schwarber hit .333/.419/.889 with a 1.308 OPS. Schwarber was 9-for-27 in nine games with five home runs, eight RBI, four walks and eight strikeouts.
Schwarber became the Cubs’ All-Time leader for home runs in the post-season. Schwarber is the first player 22-years or younger to hit five home runs in a single post-season. And Schwarber is the only player in the history of the game to hit five or more post-season home runs before turning 23 years old.
Schwarber will continue playing in the outfield while he develops as a catcher in the big leagues. Things could change in the spring with Miguel Montero and David Ross under contract and Willson Contreras pushing his way to the majors. But as of the end of the season, the Cubs see Schwarber playing multiple positions in Spring Training.
The Cubs have zero plans to trade Schwarber this winter and will find a way to keep his impact bat in the lineup.
Here is a look back at the five home runs Kyle Schwarber hit in the post-season.
Wild Card Game – PNC Park
Kyle Schwarber launched a 2-1 pitch from Gerrit Cole in the top of the third inning into the Allegheny River with Dexter Fowler on first base. Schwarber’s first postseason home run was his first longball since Sept. 12 … and the Cubs took a 3-0 lead.
Game 3 of NLDS – Wrigley Field
Schwarber gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead in the first inning of Game 3 of the NLDS against the Cardinals. Schwarber’s homer was the first of six longballs on the night for the Cubs. His opposite field dinger landed in the left center field basket.
Game 4 of the NLDS – Wrigley Field
Schwarber provided the bullpen a little breathing room with the seventh inning moonshot off lefty Kevin Siegrist. Schwarber pulled a 1-1 pitch to right that everyone thought at the time cleared the scoreboard and ended up on Sheffield. The ball landed on top of the video board and was encased the next day.
Game 1 of the NLCS – Citi Field
The longest fly of the four came in the Game 1 loss of the NLCS. Schwarber went yard for the third straight game with the 459-foot blast to right center off Matt Harvey in the eighth inning.
Game 3 of the NLCS – Wrigley Field
Schwarber stepped in against Jacob deGrom in the bottom of the first inning with the Cubs down 1-0 and tied the game with a oppo shot into the first row of the left field bleachers.
Kyle Schwarber supplied highlights in what was a memorable playoff run for the Chicago Cubs. And his mammoth shot from Game 4 of the NLDS that ended up atop of the right field video board will be included in reels for years to come.