The moment Kyle Schwarber connected, there was no doubt. A 431-foot no-doubter screamed off his bat, disappearing into the right-field seats at Citizens Bank Park. It was vintage Schwarber, the kind of moonshot fans expect when the calendar hits June. But instead of a signature bat flip or an animated trot, what followed was quieter: a look of relief. For a player known to heat up this time of year, the past two weeks had been anything but familiar.

Schwarber, the man behind the “The Junebarian” nickname thanks to his jaw-dropping summer surges, had opened June in an uncharacteristic funk. He came into Wednesday’s game slashing just .132/.233/.289 for the month, and the Phillies, already missing Bryce Harper, were skidding with a 3-7 record in their last ten. They needed a spark. Schwarber delivered one, and then owned the slump that preceded it.

“It felt great,” Schwarber said afterward. “I know I’ve been stinking here for the last [little] bit, but it’s part of the game where there’s always going to be challenges. There’s always going to be different things you’re going to have to overcome. … You keep putting in work to put yourself in a really good position to go out there and compete during the game.” That honesty hit just as hard as the home run.

Schwarber didn’t hide behind numbers or excuses. He recognized the weight of his performance, especially with Harper sidelined by a wrist injury and no timeline for return. With Schwarber being the only Phillie in double-digit home runs this season (now with 21), the team needs him to anchor the lineup. When he struggles, the offense often follows.

But even when Schwarber struck out with two runners on later in the game, the team didn’t collapse. Alec Bohm picked him up with a clutch two-run single, something Schwarber was quick to point out. “That’s what it’s all about there,” he said. “If we keep doing things like that throughout the course of the year, good things are going to happen.”

More than just a feel-good win, Wednesday’s victory clinched the season series against the Cubs, a potential tiebreaker come October. But maybe more importantly, it felt like a turning point. Schwarber’s bat woke up. His voice rang true. And for a Phillies team fighting to stay steady in Harper’s absence, that might be exactly what they needed.

Power moves ahead: Phillies weigh Kyle Schwarber extension and big-name additions

Every home run Kyle Schwarber launches this summer raises the stakes and his price tag. Set to hit free agency at the end of the season, Schwarber has become not just a Phillies fan favorite but one of the most consistent power hitters in the game. Since joining Philadelphia in 2022, he’s crushed 142 home runs, second only to Aaron Judge in that span, making his current four-year, $79 million deal look like a major bargain. But that bargain won’t last much longer.

According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the Phillies tried to lock Schwarber up with an extension this past offseason, but negotiations hit a wall. Now, with a thin free-agent class and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. staying put in Toronto via a $500 million megadeal, the market has shifted dramatically in Schwarber’s favor. ESPN’s Jeff Passan sees nine figures as a reasonable target, projecting a $25 million annual salary over four years despite Schwarber being a DH who turns 33 next Opening Day. “He is terminally productive. He is an exceptional clubhouse leader,” Passan noted. “Nobody would blink at giving him $25 million a year.”

The significant cost factor plays a huge role in the decision-making process in Philadelphia. The Phillies’ future plans involving Harper potentially transitioning back to the outfield position could consider options within the tiered free agent market, such as Pete Alonso or Alex Bregman. Alonso’s impressive performance stats and remarkable power could provide a needed boost to the team’s batting lineup. On the other hand, Bregman’s seasoned expertise and reliable defensive skills at base offer an alternative pathway towards enhancing offensive capabilities. But all of this starts with Schwarber, a vocal clubhouse presence, a leadoff slugger, and the beating heart of this lineup.

Letting him test the market without a competitive offer could open a void the Phillies might not easily fill, no matter how many stars they chase.