Kyle Schwarber home run pace: Phillies slugger is on a historic bender

Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber is off to a historic start with 20 home runs in his team's first 45 games and is on pace for 72 homers entering play on Saturday.

Schwarber has nine home runs in his last eight games, only failing to homer once in that span with two multi-home run games. The first player in baseball to reach 20 home runs this season, Schwarber is the first player since 2006 to hit at least 20 in the first 45 games of a season and only the 10th in history.

Barry Bonds crushed 24 longballs in his 73-home run 2001 season, the most of any player in history through 45 games. Albert Pujols (22 in 2006) and Ken Griffey Jr. (21 in 1994) are the only other players to hit more than 20 in such a span.

“It’s one of the cooler things I’ve seen in baseball because of the way he puts the bat on the baseball. It’s been pretty fun to watch,” teammate Bryce Harper said.

Schwarber was the NL MVP runner-up in 2025 after setting career-highs with 56 home runs and 132 RBI as the Phillies reached the postseason for the fourth year in a row.

Here's a look at where Schwarber stands in the record books as his historic onslaught continues:

Most home runs in MLB history through 45 games

• 24: Barry Bonds, 2001
• 22: Albert Pujols, 2006
• 21: Ken Griffey Jr., 1994
• 20: Kyle Schwarber, 2026
• 20: Luis Gonzalez, 2001
• 20: Mark McGwire, 2000
• 20: Mark McGwire, 1998
• 20: Ken Griffey Jr., 1997
• 20: Mickey Mantle, 1956
• 20: Cy Williams, 1923

Most home runs before All-Star break

• 39: Barry Bonds, 2001
• 38: Cal Raleigh, 2025
• 37: Chris Davis, 2013
• 37: Reggie Jackson, 1969
• 37: Mark McGwire, 1998
• 35: Luis Gonzalez, 2001
• 35: Ken Griffey Jr., 1998
• 35: Aaron Judge, 2025
• 34: Frank Howard, 1969
• 34: Aaron Judge, 2024