PHILADELPHIA, PA — Kyle Schwarber is a hero on the diamond and around the neighborhood.
The 33-year-old left-handed All-Star slugger, a superstar with a bat and even more through his charitable work with Schwarber’s Neighborhood Heroes and the Schwarber Family Foundation, was recently named the Philadelphia Phillies’ nominee for the 2026 Roberto Clemente Award.
Kyle Schwarber was honored before tonight's game as our 2026 Roberto Clemente Award nominee! For his efforts with @SchwarbsHeroes, Kyle is one of 30 club nominees eligible to receive baseball's highest honor for community and philanthropic contributions.
Vote for Schwarbs ➡️… pic.twitter.com/eBJa6rF9Zx
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 22, 2026
The Roberto Clemente Award, bestowed annually by Major League Baseball with each MLB Club nominating a player to be considered for the Award in tribute to The Great One’s on and off field achievements, character and impact, is widely regarded across MLB as the most prestigious and significant honor a professional baseball player can earn in their career.
The winner of the 2026 Roberto Clemente Award will be announced next month during the World Series. Fans can submit their (one) vote at MLB.com/RobertoClementeAward.
“Being nominated for it by your organization, it’s obviously a huge honor and it’s a privilege, but I think a lot of it goes back to the people that we serve and their families. It’s never about the person who’s trying to go out there and make a difference for those families, it’s all about the families and our first responders and military personnel,” said Schwarber this week in an interview with Latino Sports at Citizens Bank Park.
“That’s who we’re trying to go out and make an impact for. And sure, it’s great that you get to be the person that gets to get recognized for this, but it’s a whole group. It’s not just me, this is for everyone.”
According to the Phillies, Kyle Schwarber has hosted more than 1,810 first responder and military families at the ballpark or in the community this year for special experiences to celebrate their service and sacrifice – Image Credit: Maz Adams/Latino Sports
Born and raised in Middletown, Ohio to a loving family fully dedicated to being there for others by working in public service, Schwarber’s dad Greg served as a police officer and police chief for four decades while his mother Donna worked as a nurse and police dispatcher. His older sister Lindsey, picking up from their parents, served in the Army National Guard before becoming a police officer herself and a K-9 handler.
“We love going out and trying to help individuals any way that we can and when it’s close to your family, it’s something that never feels like an obligation. It’s something that we look forward to,” he said as Schwarber, alongside his wife Paige and their family, put together and host several Game Day Appreciation events each season at Citizens Bank Park as well as an annual fundraising event called Schwarber’s Block Party which recognizes local community heroes.
“It’s been such a fun ride. And to be able to have them, they come to the charity events every year, and my sister, she’ll do a dog demonstration with her K-9. They know how much it means to me but still, to have their input on a lot of different things and to feel like we’re making an impact together is huge.”
A full night of fun benefiting first responders and military families at Schwarber's Block Party! pic.twitter.com/RNKivopIaK
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) May 21, 2026
A huge component in it all is just that for the Schwarber family—transforming their gratitude into action together.
“We look forward to bringing groups here. We look forward to going out on police and fire station visits,” Schwarber noted. “We look forward to having our events and just trying to raise as much money because whenever you do have those interactions with people, it helps them and keeps them strong. I was one of the fortunate guys who, you know, got to say hi and bye to mom and dad each day and am still fortunate right now with my sister but I know that there are people out there who aren’t as fortunate as me to be able to. So, we try to make memories that last a day, a week, a month, a year, or a lifetime for them. That’s what it’s about for us.”
What about the thought of potentially winning the 2026 Roberto Clemente Award, with the honor of also wearing No. 21 on the back of his cap for the remainder of his playing career?
“It would be special, it really would be,” he replied when asked the very question. “I mean for what Mr. Clemente was able to do throughout his career and what he was trying to do to help others, it would be a huge honor. Not just for me but my family too since it’s stuff we just love doing together.”
If Kyle Schwarber were to be named the 2026 Roberto Clemente Award winner, he’d become the fourth ever Phillie to do so, joining Jimmy Rollins (2014, co-winner with Paul Konerko), Garry Maddox (1986), and Greg Luzinski (1978) – Image Credit: Maz Adams/Latino Sports
Many in Philadelphia’s clubhouse—individuals who are with Schwarber throughout the grind of a 162 game regular season more than their own families and ones who see him each day give back to the community—believe he should be right up at the top of the list for this year’s Roberto Clemente Award.
“If I had a vote on the ballot, I would give it to him,” admitted Phillies closer Jhoan Durán. “He’s a down to earth and great person on and off the field.”
Right-hander Zack Wheeler, teammates of Schwarber’s in Philadelphia since 2022, agreed, and went in depth, saying:
“Oh yeah. A lot of that stuff off the field gets unseen and not talked about, but with him, he just does so much for the community, and the first responders, and people who serve the community and put their lives at risk. Most of those people have families at home, but they are out there putting their lives at risk for us to keep us safe, keep us healthy, and all that good stuff. So, just to see him get recognized for that is very special and it’s pretty cool for him as a person, knowing him as a person. And it’s not just a show, it’s him actually caring. It’s very cool to see him continue to do it and see him get recognized for that.”
Kyle Schwarber's MLB-leading 45th home run! pic.twitter.com/xjxCNweg7a
— MLB (@MLB) September 16, 2026
A home run on and off the diamond, Schwarber’s rounded the bases 45 times this season, tying him with Pete Crow-Armstrong for MLB’s 2026 season current home run lead.
Sometimes he makes it look easy, though, according to him, not on any level as No. 21 Roberto Clemente.
“He just felt like a complete player,” Schwarber said of The Great One. “Everyone talks about the tools, but just the way that he was able to go out there and it felt seamless. Like those are things you strive for as a baseball player and it’s not saying that having those tools makes it easy, but I think that shows a lot of work that gets put into the craft because you know talent can only get you so far. There’s a lot of work that goes behind the scenes to being a great player and I feel like that was probably what he was all about.”
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