Kyle Schwarber just slammed the door on a Cincinnati homecoming, and he didn’t even bother to lock it behind him.
Despite growing up just a stone’s throw away in Middletown, Ohio, the three-time MLB All-Star made it crystal clear this offseason: thanks, but no thanks. According to reports, the Reds actually offered more money than the Philadelphia Phillies. But Schwarber’s answer was as swift as it was decisive: don’t bother.
Kyle Schwarber Breaks Hometown Hearts
It’s a tough pill to swallow for Reds fans who might have hoped that hometown loyalty still meant something. Here’s a guy who grew up in Ohio, likely watched the Reds during his childhood, and now, at 32, isn’t even tempted by a bigger payday to come back. It wasn’t about money. It wasn’t about opportunity. It was about preference. Schwarber didn’t just say no, he said, in effect, “Keep it.”
Instead, the slugger inked a five-year, $150 million deal to stay in Philadelphia, where he’s already carved out a formidable presence since joining the team in 2022. That means Schwarber is locked in with the Phillies through the 2030 season, choosing the Liberty Bell over the Queen City.
The Reds Are Rising, But Not Fast Enough
The snub hits especially hard because Cincinnati is hardly a floundering franchise. The Reds made the playoffs last season, posted a respectable 83 wins, and are building around exciting young talent like Elly De La Cruz and Hunter Greene. There’s energy in the Queen City, momentum, even. And still, it wasn’t enough to lure Schwarber back to his roots.
Instead, the reigning NL home run king will be hammering balls out of Citizens Bank Park while Reds fans are left wondering what might have been. The rejection was so firm, so final, it almost felt personal.
A Cold Goodbye from One of Their Own
In a cruel twist, this marks yet another emotional low for the Reds courtesy of a hometown connection. First, it was Rob Lowe, yes, that Rob Lowe, breaking hearts in the 2025 playoffs with that cursed ceremonial first pitch and his now-infamous “neutral MLB” hat. And now, Schwarber turns his back on the city that raised him.
Somewhere in Ohio, a Reds fan is staring at Schwarber’s Little League photo and wondering what went wrong.
