The Philadelphia Phillies are 3-1 to start the 2025 Major League Baseball season after scoring six runs between the seventh and eighth innings to beat the Colorado Rockies 6-1 during Monday’s home opener. The Phillies’ offense has scored 25 runs through the first four games, and the team has a plus 10 point differential, tied for the fourth-best in the majors.
Kyle Schwarber hit his third home run of the season in Monday’s win, and one of the new faces joined the party in the eighth inning.
Max Kepler introduces himself to Phillies fans in the best way possible
The Phillies signed former Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler to a one-year deal this offseason. The newest addition introduced himself to his new home fans in a big way against the Rockies.
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, Kepler stepped up to the plate for his fourth at-bat of the game. After working a 3-2 count, the veteran launched a ball 382 feet to right field for his first home run of the season to give the Phillies a 5-1 lead.
‼️ Das ist gut ‼️ pic.twitter.com/642G2Nen3D
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) March 31, 2025
Kepler's solo shot was the first of back-to-back home runs with fellow outfielder Nick Castellanos, which was also his first of the season.
Kepler finished his first game at Citizens Bank Park 3-for-4 with an RBI. He doubled during his first at-bat with a 109.3 mph exit velocity.
“Sometimes you just kind of blackout.”
— Devan Kaney (@Devan_Kaney) March 31, 2025
Max Kepler says he wanted to make a good impression on the team and fans in his first start at Citizens Bank Park: pic.twitter.com/HIJ7e8lhpO
The 32-year-old is slashing .364/.500/.818 with a 1.318 OPS through his first 11 at-bats with the Phillies. He played in the Phillies’ first two games of the season in Washington against the Nationals before getting the day off in Sunday, picking up a double and three walks, while scoring a pair of runs in those first two games as a Phillie.
Kepler is enjoying early success that carried over from spring training. He hit .375 with three doubles, three home runs and 11 RBI during the spring. Kepler and the Phillies hope he can keep up the power numbers throughout the season and put together an impressive season similar to when he had 32 doubles and 36 home runs with the Twins in 2019.
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