Schwarber’s Career Was Dying. Then Came Iowa.
How a Minor League Demotion Made Kyle Schwarber a Baseball Superstar
Published August 13, 2026 • Dyersville, Iowa
The Magic Moment at Field of Dreams
On a perfect summer evening in Dyersville, Iowa, Kyle Schwarber stood on the famous Field of Dreams movie site. The Philadelphia Phillies slugger was about to play against the Minnesota Twins in a special Major League Baseball game. But before the first pitch, he shared a story about the hardest—and most important—time in his baseball life.
Where it happened: The Field of Dreams Movie Site in Dyersville, Iowa
When: August 13, 2026
Who: Kyle Schwarber, Phillies designated hitter (that’s a player who only bats, doesn’t play defense)
The Tough Time: Sent Down to the Minors
What Happened in 2017?
Kyle was already a World Series champion with the Chicago Cubs. He helped them win their first title in 108 years! But the next season started badly. He couldn’t hit the ball well. So the Cubs made a tough decision:
- They "optioned" him – This means they sent him down to the minor leagues (Triple-A) to practice and improve
- He went to Des Moines, Iowa – Home of the Iowa Cubs, Chicago’s top farm team
- He stayed for 11 games – Less than two weeks, but it changed everything
What Most Players Do vs. What Kyle Did
| Most Players Might… | Kyle Schwarber Did… |
|---|---|
| Feel sorry for themselves | Showed up early every single day |
| Go through the motions | Got extra swings before practice |
| Blame bad luck | Worked with hitting coach Andy Haines to "figure it out" |
| Lose confidence | Grinded (worked super hard) to fix his swing |
IMPORTANT POINT: The Secret to Success
Kyle’s own words: "We were out there every single day trying to figure it out, grind it out."
He also said: "I wouldn’t change a single thing on how my career went because it’s been special to me and that doesn’t come with successes and it doesn’t come without failures. I think that’s the best about it is just being able to learn from every different experience and be better for it."
Translation for kids: Even the bad times are valuable if you learn from them!
From Struggle to Stardom: The Timeline
The Early Wins
- 2014: Drafted 1st round by Chicago Cubs (big honor!)
- 2015: Made it to the big leagues (Major Leagues) super fast
- 2016: Got hurt, missed most of the season
- 2016 October: Came back for World Series → CUBS WIN!
The Big Struggle
- Early 2017: Couldn’t hit well at all
- Mid-2017: Sent to Des Moines (minor leagues)
- 11 days: Worked harder than ever before
The Comeback
- Late 2017: Called back up to majors
- Later years: Became one of the most powerful hitters in baseball
- Now: 375 career home runs (that’s A LOT!)
- Future: People think he might make the Hall of Fame (baseball’s highest honor)
What "Non-Tendered" Means (And Why It’s Okay)
Baseball term explained simply: After a few more years, the Cubs "non-tendered" Kyle. This sounds scary but just means they didn’t offer him a new contract so he became a free agent (could sign with any team).
The happy ending: The Philadelphia Phillies signed him, and he’s been crushing home runs for them ever since!
Numbered Steps: Kyle’s Recipe for Bouncing Back
- Show up early – Be the first one at the field every day
- Get extra work – Do more than what’s required
- Find a great teacher – Kyle worked with coach Andy Haines
- Don’t make excuses – "Grind it out" even when it’s hard
- Trust the process – Believe the work will pay off
- Learn from failure – Treat every mistake as a lesson
- Keep perspective – "Wouldn’t change a single thing" about the journey
Summary: Why This Story Matters
Kyle Schwarber’s 11 days in Des Moines, Iowa taught us something huge: Failure isn’t the end—it’s the beginning of getting better.
- He was already a World Series champ
- He hit rock bottom (sent to minors)
- He chose hard work over feeling sorry for himself
- He became one of the best power hitters ever
- He now says he wouldn’t change anything—even the bad parts
Next time you strike out, fail a test, or have a bad day—remember Kyle in that empty ballpark in Iowa, taking extra swings while everyone else was still sleeping. That’s how champions are made.
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Q: What does "optioned to the minors" mean?
A: It’s when a Major League team sends a player down to their minor league team (like Triple-A) to practice and improve. The player is still on the team’s roster but plays in the lower league for a while.
Q: What’s a "designated hitter" (DH)?
A: In some baseball leagues, the DH is a player who only bats and doesn’t play defense (catch, throw, run bases). Kyle is so good at hitting that the Phillies use him just for his powerful swing!
Q: What does "non-tendered" mean?
A: It sounds harsh, but it just means the team decided not to offer the player a contract for the next season. The player becomes a "free agent" and can sign with any team. It happens to lots of good players!
Q: How many home runs does Kyle have now?
A: 375 career home runs as of August 2026. That puts him among the most powerful hitters in baseball history!
Q: Why is the Field of Dreams game special?
A: It’s played at the actual cornfield from the famous 1989 movie Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa. MLB built a real ballpark there for special games—it’s like playing in a movie!
Photo: Kyle Schwarber taking a picture with a young fan at the Field of Dreams game, August 13, 2026. (Des Moines Register)
Want to see more? Check out the photo gallery from the Field of Dreams game and read about the future of the Field of Dreams complex!