Phillies' Long Ball Predictions Fizzle in 2026 Season

Preseason optimism over power hitters fails to materialize for Philadelphia club

Mar. 31, 2026 at 3:15am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball player's swing broken down into fragmented, geometric shapes and planes of bright, contrasting colors, representing the Phillies' struggles to generate consistent power at the plate.The Phillies' power outage exposes cracks in their offensive foundation as the season progresses.Philadelphia Today

The Philadelphia Phillies entered the 2026 season with high expectations for their power-hitting lineup, but those predictions have not panned out so far. Despite having multiple players who were expected to hit 20 or more home runs, the Phillies' core hitters like Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Trea Turner have struggled to find their power stroke early in the year.

Why it matters

The Phillies' inability to generate consistent power from their star-studded lineup is a major disappointment for the team and its fans, who were hoping the club could contend for a playoff spot this season. The lack of home runs has put more pressure on the pitching staff and could hamper the team's chances of returning to the postseason.

The details

Through the first month of the 2026 season, the Phillies' big bats have been largely silent. Harper, Schwarber, and Turner - all of whom hit 20 or more homers in 2025 - have combined for just 7 long balls so far. The team's overall home run total of 22 ranks near the bottom of the league, a far cry from the 40+ homer projections made in the preseason.

  • The 2026 MLB season began on March 26th.

The players

Bryce Harper

A star outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies who has been a key part of the team's lineup since 2019.

Kyle Schwarber

A power-hitting outfielder for the Phillies who was expected to provide significant home run production in 2026.

Trea Turner

An All-Star infielder for the Phillies known for his combination of power and speed at the plate.

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What they’re saying

“We're just not getting the kind of pop we expected from our big bats. It's something we're going to have to figure out if we want to turn this season around.”

— Rob Thomson, Phillies Manager

What’s next

The Phillies will look to get their power hitters going in the coming weeks, with key divisional matchups against the Mets and Braves on the schedule. If the home runs don't start coming, the team may need to consider making roster changes to try and spark the offense.

The takeaway

The Phillies' early-season struggles with the long ball have been a major disappointment, raising questions about whether their preseason projections as a top offensive team were overly optimistic. The team will need its star hitters to rediscover their power stroke if it hopes to contend in the NL East.