Sophia
PHILADELPHIA – In a display of raw power that sent shockwaves through Major League Baseball, Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber launched four home runs on Thursday, August 28, 2025, leading his team to a dominant 19-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves. Schwarber’s historic performance not only broke a franchise record for RBIs but also propelled him into a fierce battle for the National League MVP award, a title many had already conceded to Shohei Ohtani.
Schwarber’s Unforgettable Night
Schwarber’s offensive explosion at Citizens Bank Park was nothing short of spectacular. He drove in an astonishing nine runs, shattering the Phillies’ single-game RBI record, a mark previously held by Gavy Cravath (1915) and later tied by Willie Jones (1958), Mike Schmidt (1976), and Jayson Werth (2008).
The designated hitter’s power surge brought his season total to 49 home runs, making him the National League leader, just one shy of Cal Raleigh (50) for the Major League crown. His incredible night has reignited conversations about the MVP race, with many now considering Schwarber a legitimate threat to Ohtani’s anticipated coronation.
“It was great to go out and do that,” Schwarber remarked after the game. He even had a chance for a fifth home run in his final at-bat, facing Braves position player Vidal Brujan, who lobbed a slow pitch reminiscent of a home run derby. However, Schwarber hit a weak pop-up to the infield.
“I shouldn’t have even asked, but I was in the cage and I thought, ‘How many players have hit five?’ Nobody said anything, so I thought that answered my question,” Schwarber admitted, noting his struggles against position players, with only two hits in 14 at-bats in such scenarios, according to MLB.
A Season of Power: Three Four-Homer Games in 2025
Baseball is a sport known for its unpredictability, and 2025 has certainly delivered. In a rare historical anomaly, this season has witnessed three different players achieve the extraordinary feat of hitting four home runs in a single game. Prior to this year, only three players had accomplished this in the last two decades. Eugenio Suarez, Nick Kurtz, and now Kyle Schwarber have all etched their names into the record books with their incredible power displays.
This marks the first time in MLB history that three different hitters have recorded four-homer games in the same season. Previously, in 2002 and 2017, two players had achieved this feat, highlighting the rarity of such an occurrence.
Elite Company: The Four-Homer Club
The list of players who have hit four home runs in a single MLB game is exclusive, comprising only 21 batters in the Live Ball Era. What’s particularly striking about this elite group is the absence of many of baseball’s most renowned power hitters. Legends like Aaron Judge, Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth, Alex Rodriguez, Hank Aaron, Albert Pujols, Ken Griffey Jr., Jim Thome, Sammy Sosa, Frank Robinson, and Mark McGwire are notably missing from this list.
Here’s a chronological look at the players who have achieved the four-homer game:
- Bobby Lowe (Beaneaters) vs. Reds in 1894
- Ed Delanhty (Phillies) vs. Colts in 1896
- Lou Gehrig (Yankees) vs. Philadelphia Athletics in 1932
- Chuck Klein (Phillies) vs. Pirates in 1936
- Pat Seerey (White Sox) vs. Philadelphia Athletics in 1948
- Gil Hodges (Brooklyn Dodgers) vs. Boston Braves in 1950
- Joe Adcock (Milwaukee Braves) vs. Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954
- Rocky Colavito (Cleveland) vs. Baltimore in 1959
- Willie Mays (Giants) vs. Milwaukee Braves in 1961
- Mike Schmidt (Phillies) vs. Cubs in 1976
- Bob Horner (Atlanta Braves) vs. Montreal in 1986
- Mark Whiten (Cardinals) vs. Reds in 1993
- Mike Cameron (Mariners) vs. White Sox in 2002
- Shawn Green (Los Angeles Dodgers) vs. Brewers in 2002
- Carlos Delgado (Blue Jays) vs. Rays in 2003
- Josh Hamilton (Rangers) vs. Baltimore in 2012
- Scooter Gennett (Reds) vs. Cardinals in 2017
- JD Martínez (Arizona) vs. Cardinals in 2017
- Eugenio Suárez (Arizona) vs. Braves in 2025
- Nick Kurtz (Athletics) vs. Astros in 2025
- Kyle Schwarber (Phillies) vs. Braves in 2025
The MVP Race Intensifies
With Schwarber’s monumental performance, the National League MVP race has become significantly more compelling. While Shohei Ohtani has been a dominant force, Schwarber’s recent surge in home runs and RBIs puts him firmly in contention. This unexpected twist ensures that the battle for one of baseball’s most prestigious individual honors will captivate fans until the very end of the season.
As the regular season draws to a close, all eyes will be on Schwarber and Ohtani as they continue their pursuit of individual glory, adding another layer of excitement to what has already been an unforgettable MLB season.
