Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber has a number of great qualities that greatly helps the team, which is exactly why he was named to the All-Star game for the second time in his career last season. Unfortunately, his defense in the outfield has below average at best. This weakness in his game came through clearly in a key moment of Thursday’s game against the Atlanta Braves.
The game was void of much offense through most of it, going to extra innings after a scoreless 0-0 tie through nine innings.
Atlanta had the first chance to break the scoreless tie in the top of the tenth inning, and they did so in a big way. Braves outfielder Michael Harris II laced an RBI single through the infield to take a 1-0 lead.
Up in extras!#ForTheA pic.twitter.com/37lm8bthNA
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 22, 2023
Schwarber’s poor defense then came into play. Braves star Austin Riley hit a line drive right to Schwarber in left field, which hit right off his glove after he whiffed on the catch. This led to two runs scoring on the play.
"Schwarber coming on, he's there… OH HE DROPPED IT… That'll be Kyle's third error of the year, and he's just changed the entire complexion of this game."
"And a high flyball to deep left field, and this inning is UNRAVELING."
Tom McCarthy for NBC Sports Philadelphia. ⚾️🎙️ pic.twitter.com/nJfZrDZl5v
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 22, 2023
The play was not ruled an error shockingly, which Phillies broadcaster Tom McCarthy rightfully blasted after the official ruling.
“The scoreboard here does not have an error up on that ball to Kyle Schwarber… That has to be an error… That has to be a mistake there. This is not a hit in any level. I don’t care what your dad says. I don’t care what your coach says. There’s no way that’s ruled a hit.”
"The scoreboard here does not have an error up on that ball to Kyle Schwarber… That has to be an error… That has to be a mistake there. This is not a hit in any level. I don't care what your dad says. I don't care what your coach says. There's no way that's ruled a hit." pic.twitter.com/A46Kex3Or8
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 22, 2023
Many around the MLB world blasted Schwarber for his poor effort on this play.
shoutout to Kyle Schwarber for this amazing 10th inning pic.twitter.com/YEIxuQsQmY
— Kevin Keneely (@KevinKeneely1) June 22, 2023
Kyle Schwarber is having a bad season in Left field pic.twitter.com/vAzAmznjBK
— Barstool Baseball (@StoolBaseball) June 22, 2023
Can’t believe Kyle Schwarber missed this
Braves up 5-0 pic.twitter.com/bbpQ0Ag8St
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) June 22, 2023
Who would have thought -23-OAA since last year Kyle Schwarber would drop this baseball…. pic.twitter.com/AUZAjwHt58
— Fuzzy (@fuzzyfromyt) June 22, 2023
If the catch was made by Schwarber, the Phillies would have gotten out of the inning with only one run allowed. Instead, things would only get worse for them, as Phillies pitcher Yunior Marte allowed a two-run home run in the following at-bat.
This one's not coming back! 🚀#ForTheA pic.twitter.com/s8egXCDZ1g
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 22, 2023
Four additional runs scored due to Schwarber’s blunder, and that would ultimately end up being the difference in this game. They would go on to lose this game 5-1 to Atlanta.
That's the series!#ForTheA pic.twitter.com/PFhaAwPvaR
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 22, 2023
[Awful Announcing on Twitter] Photo Credit: NBC Sports Philadelphia
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.