PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – AUGUST 03: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies speaks to media after the game against the Detroit Tigers at Citizens Bank Park on August 03, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 2-0. (Photo by Caean Couto/Getty Images)
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The Philadelphia Phillies suffered a collective disappointment once again this year but it wasn’t for a lack of individual greatness.
For the second straight season the Phillies excelled during the regular season and won the National League East division, only to get eliminated from the playoffs after a single postseason win. The team will have to reevaluate its construction this winter, but in the meantime it got some good news on a pair of stars.
Starter Cristopher Sanchez was announced as a finalist for the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s (BBWA) National League Cy Young Award. And designated hitter Kyle Schwarber was announced as a finalist for the BBWA’s National League Most Valuable Player Award.
Neither player seems likely to take home their respective awards but Schwarber’s nomination is particularly noteworthy because he doesn’t play a defensive position. Designated hitters have won an MVP award only three times in Major League Baseball history, the least of any position. But Schwarber’s 56 homers and 132 RBI this season were so impressive that his nomination was well earned.
However, when he was asked to highlight the challenges of playing designated hitter following the news that he was named a finalist for MVP, Schwarber offered a dismissive four-word response.
“It’s hard to complain,” Schwarber said during an appearance on MLB Network on Monday.
With that telling response, Schwarber seemed to acknowledge that he’s a bit of an afterthought for the award following Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani.
Ohtani is also a designated hitter, but only on the days when he doesn’t take the mound for the Dodgers. And thanks to his slugging prowess and performance as a pitcher this year, he seems set to earn his fourth career MVP.
“As long as he stays healthy and doesn’t go into the first funk of his life, we might as well name the MVP award after Los Angeles Dodgers DH/starter Shohei Ohtani,” as Bob Nightengale put it for USA Today. “Really, the only drama every year in the MVP race is who gets to be the runner-up. This year, it’s easily Schwarber. If it wasn’t for Ohtani’s heroics, Schwarber would fit the true definition of an MVP.”
After a standout individual season for the Phillies, Schwarber might have posted offensive numbers that are typically worthy of the award. But as long as Ohtani is in contention, Schwarber seems to accept that playing a strictly offensive role won’t be enough to earn the trophy.