Bryce Harper will consider competing in Home Run Derby if he is an All-Star; Kyle Schwarber returns to lineup

At this rate, Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber could be the first teammates to chase down 400 career homers in the same season since 2016.

But what if the Phillies stars face off in the Home Run Derby — on their home turf, no less?

“We’ll see,” Harper said. “It would be really cool for the fans.”

» READ MORE: Rhys Hoskins’ injury was a sliding door moment in Phillies history. And it still ‘kind of eats at’ Bryce Harper.

Two months into the season, Harper and Schwarber are putting up numbers that would land them in Philly’s All-Star Game on July 14. Entering the weekend, Schwarber led the majors with 20 homers and ranked third in OPS (.981); Harper had 12 homers and was 12th in the National League with an .887 OPS.

Harper, who won the Home Run Derby with the Nationals when Washington hosted the All-Star Game in 2018, said he will consider competing as long as he’s an All-Star.

“I’ve got to see how my body feels,” Harper said. “It would be a blast to be able to play in an All-Star Game here. That would be a dream to be able to play in that game. We’re still a little bit of a ways away from that, so still got to keep going, keep playing hard, keep playing well, and get there.

“I won’t do [the Derby] if I’m not an All-Star. I just want to be an All-Star, first and foremost. And I want to be healthy. I’m going to take health into consideration, big time, because I feel great right now and I don’t want to screw that up. So, we’ll see.”

Harper has 375 career homers and is on pace to hit 26 more this season; Schwarber has 360 homers and is on pace to hit 44 more. In that case, both would challenge 400 homers this season.

Carlos Beltrán and Mark Teixeira reached 400 in 2016 with the Yankees. The only other teammates to achieve the milestone in the same year were Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko with the White Sox in 2012.

Health-permitting, Harper and Schwarber seem almost certain to join the list, either by season’s end or early next year.

“If we have an opportunity to do it together,” Harper said, “I think it’d be a lot of fun.”

Schwarber was back in his familiar No. 2 spot in the order after missing three games against the Reds with what he characterized as a “gastrointestinal issue.”

“It wasn’t like I was out there and got the runs or anything like that,” Schwarber said. “I’ve dealt with it before. It just hasn’t really happened in season before, but I kind of knew what to expect.”

Schwarber, who leads the majors with 20 homers, has hit nine in his last 10 games. He isn’t worried about losing his timing due to the three-game absence.

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“I don’t think it’ll take that much effect,” said Schwarber, who noted he was available to pinch-hit Wednesday if the situation had arisen. “But obviously have to get back to work in the cage, get back in the routine.”

Schwarber played in 225 consecutive games before the illness and joked that he’s “just never going to break Cal Ripken’s record” for consecutive games played.

But Schwarber did recover in time to join his wife, Paige, in hosting their fourth annual Schwarber’s Block Party. The sold-out event at Union Transfer in Philadelphia raised $443,000 for first responders and their families.

Upon returning to town with the Guardians, ex-Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins said he walked by his old apartment in the city.

“Just being back here, those memories always come flooding back,” said Hoskins, this week’s guest on The Inquirer’s Phillies Extra podcast. “I think that’s kind of why this place is very special.

The Phillies drafted Hoskins in 2014. He made his major league debut here three years later, famously hitting 18 homers in his first 34 games. He averaged 24 homers per season in six seasons with the Phillies.

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Hoskins, who started at first base Friday night against Phillies lefty Cristopher Sánchez, came into the game batting .185 with four homers and a .705 OPS.

“As a young player here, you think about playing with one team my whole career,” Hoskins said. “Getting a chance to end a career here, too, would be pretty special, so I’ll never close that door.”

Top pitching prospect Gage Wood allowed one run on four hits and one walk and struck out six batters in three innings in his double-A debut in Portland, Maine. The 22-year-old righty’s first home start in Reading is set for next Friday. … Two weeks into a 30-day minor-league assignment, reliever Zach Pop (calf strain) has allowed seven runs on 10 hits and one walk in five innings for triple-A Lehigh Valley. … Zack Wheeler (3-0, 1.99 ERA) is scheduled to start at 4:05 p.m. Saturday, weather-permitting, against Guardians righty Slade Cecconi (3-4, 5.16).

Watch the latest episode

As the Phillies continue to seek more production out of the cleanup spot, Rhys Hoskins is coming back to town this weekend with the Cleveland Guardians. Hoskins sat down with "Phillies Extra," The Inquirer's baseball podcast, to discuss his role with the first-place Guardians, his legacy with the Phillies, and more. Watch here.

You can also subscribe to the podcast version of Phillies Extra on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Previous episodes: Terry Francona | Aaron Rowand | Hunter Pence | Paco Figueroa | Gage Wood | Scott Boras | Brian Barber | Aaron Nola | Justin Crawford | Garrett Stubbs