Kyle Schwarber's best Cubs moments

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Kyle Schwarber is a free agent.Wednesday, the club non-tendered the 27-year-old outfielder after six seasons on the North Side.This move seemed unpredictable a year ago, as Schwarber, who was under team control through 2021, had a torrid 2019 second half at the plate. He finished the season with career-highs in average (.250), home runs (38) and RBIs (92), but like many of his teammates, that production did not carry over to the strange, abbreviated 2020 season.Schwarber, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2014 draft, never sustained the level of success he showed flashes of, but is known as a great teammate and well-respected in the Cubs clubhouse, as well as a fan favorite. He’s done great things off the field, including supporting COVID-19 frontline workers this year.And Cubs fans will never forget his legendary performance that helped the Cubs snap their 108-year World Series drought.What’s next for Schwarber is uncertain. In the meantime, here’s a look back at his best moments in a Cubs uniform.

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MORE: Cubs non-tender Schwarber, Almora, Martínez, Tepera

The Cubs drafted Schwarber No. 4 overall in 2014. A little over a year later, he was on their big league roster, called up from Double-A to DH during an interleague stretch against the Indians and Twins.

Schwarber made his debut on June 16, 2015 against Cleveland, entering as a defensive replacement at catcher. He struck out in his one plate appearance but started the next day and made a big impact as the DH, going 4-for-5 with a triple and two RBIs. He hit his first career home run the following game, part of a 2-for-4 showing at the plate. 

All said, Schwarber went 8-for-22 (.364) during those six games before the Cubs optioned him to Triple-A. They recalled him permanently in July, and he ended the season with 16 home runs and 43 RBIs in 69 games.

Then came October…

 

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The Cubs finished 2015 with a 97-65 record, making the postseason for the first time since 2008. Their path started with a do-or-die matchup against the 98-win Pirates in the NL wild-card game, and Schwarber delivered an early blow to Pittsburgh.

After a Dexter Fowler lead off single and stolen base, Schwarber knocked him in with an opposite-field base hit. Two innings later, he hit one of the most memorable home runs in Cubs history, crushing a blast off Pirates ace Gerrit Cole that sailed out of PNC Park and towards the Allegheny River.

Gotta respect that bat flip.

The Cubs won the game 4-0 behind a complete-game shutout by Jake Arrieta and Schwarber’s big-time performance. It was their first postseason win in 12 years.

 

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How do you top a postseason home run that sails out of the ballpark? Maybe you don’t, but Schwarber at least matched his wild-card long ball in the ensuing NLDS against the rival Cardinals. 

The Cubs, one win away from advancing to the NLCS, and Cardinals were in the midst of a back-and-forth affair in Game 4 of the 2015 Division Series. Anthony Rizzo put the Cubs ahead 5-4 in the sixth inning, and Schwarber delivered what was the decisive blow an inning later.

Schwarber crushed a home run that would have easily sailed onto Sheffield Avenue, if not for Wrigley Field’s right field video board. The ball wound up landing on top of it, and the Cubs memorialized it in a plexiglass case for the rest of the season.

TBS broadcaster Dennis Eckersley famously said, "What in the world?" in reaction to the blast. Suffice to say, we all shared the feeling.

 

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Big things were expected of Schwarber in 2016, but his season appeared to be over three games in. That April against the Diamondbacks, he collided with Fowler in left-center field of Arizona’s Chase Field, tearing his left ACL and LCL.

Schwarber, however, vigorously attacked his rehab, shockingly returning for the start of the ’16 World Series. The return itself was improbable, and he cemented his status as a Chicago legend during the seven-game Fall Classic.

Schwarber started all four games in Cleveland at DH and pinch hit during another at Wrigley. He hit .412 (7-for-17), including a double in Game 1 off Corey Kluber in his second at-bat. He added two RBIs in Game 2, helping the Cubs even the series at 1-1.

Oh, and he singled to lead off the 10th inning of Game 7.  Albert Almora Jr. pinch ran for him and scored the go-ahead run in the Cubs’ 8-7 championship-clinching win. 

 

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Schwarber has had some memorable moments in left field since converting from catcher. However, he’s taken strides defensively, frequently throwing runners out with his cannon for an arm. 

He also has made some impressive plays with his glove, one of which came in May 2017 on Sunday Night Baseball against the Yankees. Schwarber barreled full speed into the stands down the left field foul line to make a catch, flipping into the crowd

For a guy coming off a scary knee injury, that was a heck of an effort worthy of fans' respect.

 

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Cubs fans are accustomed to seeing Schwarber hit mammoth home runs. In 2018, he put on a show for the national stage, competing in the Home Run Derby at Nationals Park in the nation's capital.

The Cubs slugger won his first-round matchup over Houston’s Alex Bregman, 16-15. In the second round, he needed 21 home runs to top Philadelphia’s Rhys Hoskins, whom he trailed 20-8 with two minutes remaining. 

That deficit proved to be no problem for Schwarber, who hit a buzzer-beating No. 21 to advance to the final round. 

Although hometown favorite and Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper beat him 19-18 to take home the crown, it was a blast seeing Schwarbomb after Schwarbomb bring the Washington crowd to its feet. 

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Cubs fans know Milwaukee's Miller Park to be "Wrigley North," and Schwarber rewarded the North Side faithful in attendance on July 28, 2019.

The Cubs beat the Brewers that day behind seven RBIs from the Cubs left fielder, which came on a second-inning grand slam and fourth-inning three-run shot.

Schwarber got on top of Zach Davies' offering and demolished it for his first blast, prompting Len Kasper to make his grand slam call while the ball was still near its apex.

On the second long ball, Schwarber threw his hands at the pitch and didn't seem to get enough of it, but it had enough to get over the left-center wall.

Have a day, Kyle.

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