The major leagues have been around for 154 years, and for roughly 140 of those years, the leadoff hitter was defined as someone with great contact ability to get on base and with the speed to steal bases then. However, in recent years, a new type of leadoff hitter has developed. Having good on-base skills is still paramount to the new-age leadoff men, but the power element has been something new added to the position, and Kyle Schwarber is a perfect example of the modern leadoff batter.
The slugger has just 27 stolen bases across his decade in the Big Leagues, but he also has both the patience to draw walks and get on base, as well as the home run ability to knock himself in. He did just that in the Philadelphia Phillies’ 4-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday as Schwarber led off the game with a 416-foot home run. It was his team-leading 32nd long ball of the year, but more notably, it was his 13th leadoff homer of the season. That made history as it ties Alfonso Soriano’s (2003) all-time mark for the most leadoff home runs in a single season.
