Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber is already on track to challenge Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire

Kyle Schwarber hit his second home run to extend the Phillies' lead over the Cubs.

Because the Philadelphia Phillies have had a disappointing start, collectively, to the 2026 season, it's easy to miss what Kyle Schwarber is doing.

Schwarber, even in his early 30's, has taken his offensive game to a whole new level. In 2025, Schwarber exploded with 56 home runs, a new career high. Through the first 46 games of the 2026 season, he might be on his way to an even more impressive and historic number.

Remarkably, Schwarber's already hit 20 home runs through his first 46 games. Through 162 games, that would put him on pace for 70 home runs in 2026.

Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber celebrates scoring a run in the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on May 22, 2025. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)

Where does that stack up historically? Only two players in MLB history have ever hit 70 home runs or more in a season, Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire. What else does those two players have in common? Both were linked to performance enhancing drugs. And in fact, the players who populate the leader board of all-time single season homer runs is primarily concentrated in that era.

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Until you get to Aaron Judge's incredible 62 home run season in 2022, it's Bonds, McGwire and Sosa. Could Schwarber challenge the 70 home run mark and in doing so, become the first to ever reach that number without some type of PED connection? Even looking into some historic comparisons, Schwarber's 2026 has been impressive.

Philadelphia Phillies' Kyle Schwarber is cheered in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the