Could one of baseball’s most feared sluggers be eyeing a return to his roots?
Philadelphia Phillies star Kyle Schwarber — a postseason hero, clubhouse leader, and power-hitting machine — has just dropped a headline-grabbing comment that’s sending shockwaves through Cincinnati.
In a conversation with The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber ahead of the All-Star Game, Schwarber opened up about what it would mean to play for the team he grew up loving: the Cincinnati Reds.
“Being a baseball fan and growing up and watching Cincinnati baseball for your whole youth, that’s how you fall in love with baseball,” said Schwarber, a Middletown, Ohio native. “Being able to play for your childhood team is something that I think it’d be awesome.”
Yes, you read that right — Schwarber just said playing for the Reds would be awesome.
While Schwarber has been a cornerstone of the Phillies since signing his four-year, $79 million deal before the 2022 season — launching 161 home runs and helping Philly reach the World Series in 2022 — he’s now in the final year of his contract. Talks of an extension with Philadelphia have stalled, and the door may be slowly creaking open.
And Reds fans? They’re listening.
The timing couldn’t be more perfect. Cincinnati is building a young, exciting roster, and a veteran slugger like Schwarber could be the missing piece to not just guide the lineup, but ignite a postseason charge. Imagine Schwarber bringing his postseason experience, 40+ homer power, and fiery leadership to Great American Ball Park — in the very city where his love for baseball was born.
Still, Schwarber isn’t ruling out staying in Philadelphia.
“I’ve made it known that Philly’s been home for me these last four years, and that’s where my kids have been growing up,” he said. “We spend more time in Philadelphia than we do at our own home in Ohio during the offseason. That’s what they know as home.”
But as free agency looms, Schwarber’s heartfelt words about the Reds can’t be ignored. In a league where players rarely get to live out childhood dreams, a chance to come home could be a powerful pull.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan predicts Schwarber could land a four-year, $100 million deal this offseason. The Reds have the payroll flexibility, the young core, and now — perhaps — the attention of one of MLB’s biggest bats.
So, is a hometown home run in the making?
One thing is clear: Kyle Schwarber to Cincinnati is no longer just a dream — it’s a possibility.
