​Philadelphia Phillies slugger and former Middletown High School standout Kyle Schwarber appeared on “Pat McAfee Show” ahead of Schwarber taking part in the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby, and talked about how the derby reminds him of growing up as a Reds fan and pretending he was Reds Hall of Famer and former Moeller High School standout Ken Griffey Jr.”I grew up in Cincinnati (as a) Reds fan,” Schwarber said. “Griffey, hat backwards. Like growing up playing tee ball. I’ve got a wood bat. There’s a picture of me. It’s funny. … I’ve got my hat backwards, wood bat. And I’m trying to hit the Griffey tilt. And that was just another cool moment of just thinking about the Home Run Derby. We always played that growing up in the backyard. We had an above-ground pool. And then we had a short fence in left (field).”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSchwarber’s Phillies teammate, Bryce Harper, also is participating. Schwarber was with the Chicago Cubs when he finished as the runner-up to Harper in the 2018 derby.1 / 35Cincinnati Reds left fielder JJ Bleday (22) hits a solo hime run in the sixth inning between the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Saturday, July 11, 2026.(Albert Cesare/The Enquirer)Schwarber has hit 28 home runs against the Reds, more than he’s homered against any opponent.When Schwarber homered July 7 off of Reds starter Andrew Abbott in the third inning of the Reds’ 4-1 loss in their series opener, Schwarber did something he hadn’t done previously against Cincinnati and has rarely done throughout his MLB career: homering on a 3-0 count.Schwarber has hit 372 MLB home runs, including an MLB-leading 32 this season.Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) walks for first base as he hits a two-run home run in the third inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Philadelphia Phillies at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. The Phillies led 3-0 after three innings.This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Kyle Schwarber says Home Run Derby elicits growing up emulating Junior