Schwarber, 28, is hitting .253/.340/.570 with 25 homers in 72 games — numbers fueled by a ridiculous June in which he hit 12 homers in a 10-game span from June 19-29, tied for the big league record for most homers in a 10-game period. He also set a record for most homers as a leadoff hitter in a calendar month with 15. The All-Star has been on the injured list due to a hamstring strain since July 3; one major league source said that he might be out another 10 days at least.
Schwarber doesn’t represent the cleanest roster fit. The team has had a significant hole at first base, where it ranks at or near the bottom of the league in average (.218), OBP (.262), and slugging (.390). But Schwarber has never played first in his career, and some evaluators are skeptical he can.
Still, according to major league sources, the Red Sox will give him a look at first, a position that might help him as he returns from his hamstring injury, while also rotating him in as an outfield corner and designated hitter. Regardless of position, when and if healthy, he should help an offense that has looked listless since the All-Star break, averaging 4.3 runs per game (roughly middle of the pack).