In a heartwarming display of school spirit, Kyle Schwarber, the designated hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies and a proud graduate of Indiana University, took a moment to engage with fans ahead of the highly anticipated Peach Bowl on Friday night. This event has been affectionately dubbed a "Schwar-photobomb" by those who witnessed it.
Before Indiana's matchup against the Oregon Ducks in Atlanta, Schwarber served as the honorary captain for his alma mater. Adorned with his 2016 World Series championship ring, he stood alongside Jonathan Stewart, a former running back for Oregon, as they participated in the pregame coin toss alongside the official team captains at midfield.
From 2012 to 2014, Schwarber played as a catcher for the Hoosiers, earning accolades as a freshman All-American and leading the team to capture the Big Ten title during his junior year. Over his career at Indiana, he impressively hit 40 home runs in just 180 games, which ultimately propelled him to be selected as the fourth overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft—the highest selection ever for an IU player.
Schwarber's unwavering devotion to Indiana University has been evident throughout his professional baseball journey. In 2016, after celebrating the Cubs' World Series victory, he returned to campus to support the Hoosiers as their honorary captain during a game against North Carolina. More recently, in October 2024, he made an appearance on ESPN's “College Gameday,” donning shoulder pads, an Indiana football jersey, and a baseball helmet while serving as the guest picker when the show broadcasted live from Bloomington, Indiana.
Just last month, Schwarber contributed to a motivational hype video released by the school prior to the Big Ten Championship game—an effort that proved successful, as the Hoosiers triumphed over Ohio State and secured the top seed in the playoffs.
Following a historic victory against Alabama on New Year's Day, where Indiana claimed its first Rose Bowl title, the team went on to achieve another remarkable win against Oregon on Friday night, propelling them into the national championship game in Miami. They are set to face off against the No. 10 seed, the University of Miami, on January 19.
As enthusiasm builds, we can certainly look forward to seeing some fun South Beach selfies from Schwarber and the team!
