Phillies star Kyle Schwarber sets MLB record with 14th leadoff home run in game against Rays

Kyle Schwarber got off to a flying start Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park, setting a new Major League Baseball record.

The Philadelphia Phillies star hit a leadoff home run to open their game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, driving a deep drive off Rays pitcher Taj Bradley on just the second pitch of the night that traveled more than 430 feet into right-center field to give them an instant 1-0 lead.

The home run was Schwarber’s 14th leadoff home run of the season, setting a new single-season MLB record.

Schwarber was tied with former New York Yankees star Alfonso Soriano for the all-time home run record prior to Tuesday’s game. Soriano hit 38 home runs during the 2003 season, 13 of which were leadoffs. Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts came close to that mark last season, but he finished with 12. Schwarber was also tied for eighth on the all-time list after hitting 11 leadoff home runs last season with the Phillies. The 31-year-old hit a career-high 47 home runs during the season.

The home run was Schwarber’s 35th of the season, tied for seventh-most in the league. Schwarber entered Tuesday’s game with a .250 batting average and 94 RBI this season, his third with the Phillies.

The Phillies entered the night with an 86-58 record and have won seven of their last nine, including a 2-1 win over the Rays on Monday. Schwarber also hit a solo home run in the sixth inning of that game. Philadelphia holds a seven-game lead in the NL East standings and is tied with the Dodgers for the best record in the league with fewer than 20 games remaining in the regular season.