There may not be another member of the 2018 Chicago Cubs that will enter the season under a bigger microscope than Kyle Schwarber. The 2016 season was a blessing and curse for Schwarber as it was the season that saw him get injured in the second game of the season only to see him roar back and become a legend in Cubs history for his role in the 2016 postseason.
2016 was undoubtedly Schwarber’s high-point in his young career which is what made 2017 so painful to watch. Schwarber was thrust into the leadoff spot in 2017 where he struggled mightily and fans watched his numbers slip lower and lower each week. He was eventually demoted to AAA in June for a short stint with the Iowa Cubs in an attempt to resurrect the 2016 version of Schwarber.
With 2017 in his rear view mirror, Schwarber is attacking 2018 head on. After shedding a bunch of weight to improve his defensive mobility, Cubs fans have gotten a quick glimpse at the new and improved Kyle Schwarber early in 2018 Spring Training.
To honor the now svelte Kyle Schwarber, I thought it’d be fun to look at my top five favorite GIFs of the now-slim left fielder.
5. The Dancing Machine
I have no idea what the context of this GIF is but I find watching Schwarber bust out a jam in the middle of the dugout quite hysterical.
4. Bro-Tastic
This bear hug came after Schwarber and Russell hit back-to-back home runs on June 11, 2017. At first glance, one would think the hug was to celebrate both players long balls but if you remember, Russell was in the middle of a nasty public feud with his then-wife Melissa who accused Russell of domestic violence (which he was never charged). This GIF shows what a good teammate is all about.
3. The One Man Celebration
This GIF comes from the magical 2016 season in which the Cubs won the World Series (in case you forgot.) After the team clinched the division in late October in Chicago, Schwarber was in Arizona rehabbing a torn ACL. Once he heard the team clinched, this was waiting for him in the locker room in Arizona.
2. Graceful He Is Not
The GIF of Schwarber eating shit rounding first base will forever be funny to me. It comes from the 2015 season and it actually occurred during a home run. Clearly, Schwarber didn’t think the ball would leave the park so he was hauling ass to second base before he stumbled like the large child he is. Bonus points for his teammates razzing the f*ck out of him as well.
- The Shot(s) Heard Round The World
Yes, I know these are actually two different GIFs but I couldn’t make my mind up so I went with both. Both GIFs come from the 2015 postseason when Schwarber really burst onto the MLB scene as a true power hitter. The top GIF comes from the 2015 Wild Card game when Schwarber took Pittsburgh “ace” Gerrit Cole deep (and I mean REALLY deep.) The bat flip, pitcher reaction — all of this makes me happy.
Yes, I know these are actually two different GIFs but I couldn’t make my mind up so I went with both. Both GIFs come from the 2015 postseason when Schwarber really burst onto the MLB scene as a true power hitter. The top GIF comes from the 2015 Wild Card game when Schwarber took Pittsburgh “ace” Gerrit Cole deep (and I mean REALLY deep.) The bat flip, pitcher reaction — all of this makes me happy.The bottom GIF is Schwarber’s most famous home run in his career which came in the 2015 NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals. This ball landed on top of the Wrigley Field scoreboard and effectively ended the Cardinals run as being the team to beat in the NL Central.
Happy 25th birthday to the War Bear. I hope there are many more moments in your career that are GIF worthy.
