The Citizens Bank Park crowd was on its feet before Kyle Schwarber even stepped in the batter’s box. The Phillies had already scored a run in the sixth inning on a single, hit batsman, a walk and a sacrifice fly.

Now 32, Schwarber is one of several core Phillies players scheduled to hit free agency after this season, along with catcher J.T. Realmuto and lefty Ranger Suárez. As owner John Middleton said Friday, keeping Schwarber beyond 2025 is a priority. Here's what Middleton told reporters, including the Associated Press: