MLB History Made: Kyle Schwarber Records 21st-Ever 4-Homer Game in Ongoing MVP Season

Kyle Schwarber Smashes Four Homers, Makes MLB History and Fuels 2025 MVP Campaign

Philadelphia Phillies star Kyle Schwarber delivered one of the most unforgettable performances of the 2025 MLB season on Thursday night, launching four home runs in a 19-4 blowout victory over the Atlanta Braves.

The slugger’s power surge not only secured a decisive win for Philadelphia but also carved his name deeper into the history books. With this performance, Schwarber became the 21st player in Major League Baseball history to hit four homers in a single game — a feat so rare that only three players have achieved it in 2025, the first time that has ever happened in one season.

Schwarber Joins Rare Company in MLB History

By hitting four homers in one game, Schwarber joined an elite club that includes legends like Lou Gehrig, Willie Mays, and Mike Schmidt. But this season, the achievement feels even more remarkable because Eugenio Suárez and Nick Kurtz have also posted four-homer games, making 2025 the first year in MLB history to feature three separate four-homer performances.

For the Phillies, Schwarber’s performance also carried franchise significance. He became the fourth Philadelphia player ever to accomplish the feat, joining:

Ed Delahanty (1896) – One of the earliest power hitters in baseball history.

Chuck Klein (1936) – Hall of Famer and one of the premier sluggers of his era.

Mike Schmidt (1976) – Widely considered the greatest player in Phillies history.

With four such games in their history, the Phillies now hold the all-time MLB record for most four-homer games by a single franchise.

A Historic Night at the Plate

Schwarber wasted little time setting the tone for the evening. In the first inning, he crushed a 450-foot home run off Braves starter Cal Quantrill, sending a clear message that he was locked in.

He wasn’t done. Against reliever Austin Cox, Schwarber went deep twice more in the fourth and fifth innings, electrifying the Philadelphia dugout and fans alike. Then, in the seventh inning, he sealed his place in history with a fourth blast off Wander Suero, completing the rare achievement.

By the end of the night, Schwarber’s four home runs had traveled a combined 1,618 feet. In the eighth inning, he even had the chance to do something no MLB player has ever accomplished — hit five home runs in a single game. Facing Braves position-player pitcher Vidal Bruján, Schwarber got under the ball and popped out, just missing his chance to set an all-time record.

Even without that fifth homer, Schwarber’s stat line was jaw-dropping: four homers, 49 on the season, and a new career high. He now leads the National League in home runs and trails only Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners by one for the overall MLB lead.

How Schwarber’s Night Impacts the MVP Race

With one of the most impressive individual performances of the season, attention quickly turned to how Schwarber’s historic night might impact the 2025 National League MVP race.

Schwarber’s numbers are undeniably elite — he leads the NL in home runs and RBIs, while also reaching new career highs in power production. His consistency as the Phillies’ offensive engine has been critical to their playoff push.

However, Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers remains the overwhelming MVP favorite. Oddsmakers had Ohtani listed at -5000 before Thursday’s games, largely due to his unmatched ability to dominate as both a hitter and a pitcher.

While Schwarber holds the edge in raw power numbers, Ohtani’s all-around contributions make him nearly untouchable in the MVP race. Ohtani has pitched 32 1/3 innings this season in addition to his offensive production, whereas Schwarber has only appeared in left field eight times, spending the rest of his games as a designated hitter.

Still, baseball is a sport of streaks. With over a month left in the regular season, Schwarber’s four-homer game could be the spark that propels him into a historic finish. If he continues at this pace — or if Ohtani stumbles — the MVP conversation could shift dramatically.

Why Schwarber’s Performance Matters Beyond the Box Score

Schwarber’s four-homer game wasn’t just a statistical milestone; it was a reminder of the sheer excitement that baseball can deliver. Fans across MLB were buzzing on social media as each ball left the park, while broadcasters scrambled to put Schwarber’s name in the context of legends who had achieved the same feat.

For the Phillies, the game reinforced their status as legitimate contenders, with Schwarber anchoring the lineup at a time when every win matters in the playoff race. For Schwarber himself, it solidified his reputation as one of the most feared sluggers of his generation — a player capable of changing the outcome of a game with a single swing, or four.

Conclusion

Kyle Schwarber’s four-homer night against the Braves will go down as one of the defining moments of the 2025 MLB season. It was a performance that showcased his prodigious power, etched his name deeper into baseball’s history books, and injected new intrigue into the MVP race against Shohei Ohtani.

Whether or not Schwarber can ultimately close the gap in the MVP voting, his night of towering home runs reminded fans why baseball remains the most unpredictable and thrilling of sports. And with a career-high 49 home runs already under his belt, it seems clear that Schwarber’s bat has more fireworks left before the season ends.