MIAMI -- Kyle Schwarber's weight loss isn't affecting his power, and the adjustments he's made at the plate are paying off.
The Cubs' outfielder belted his second home run of the season on Saturday, crushing a 3-1 pitch from the Marlins' Odrisamer Despaigne (an 85.8-mph cutter) into the right-field upper deck in the second inning of the Cubs' 10-6, 10-inning victory.
According to Statcast™, the ball had an exit velocity of 111 mph and traveled 407 feet, although it looked as if it went farther as it landed about six rows from the back of the stadium. Schwarber's homer in Thursday's season opener registered at 406 feet.
The 25-year-old slugger dropped more than 20 pounds this offseason to improve his quickness in the outfield. It hasn't affected his strength at all.
"I'm counting the adjustments made more than the weight loss," Schwarber said. "It's allowed me to be more free to get that pitch."
He can feel a difference at the plate.
"Yes, but it's not because of the weight loss," Schwarber said. "It's the adjustments. Being able to talk with [hitting coach Chili Davis] in the offseason and working with him now has helped."
Schwarber grounded out to Despaigne on an excuse-me swing in the fourth, then nearly put the cycle watch on high alert leading off the seventh, thanks to a pair of impressive feats picked up by Statcast™.
Schwarber laced a 115.7-mph line drive into the right-field corner off former Cubs pitcher Jacob Turner that would have ranked as his second-hardest-hit ball of 2017. The trimmed-down outfielder then reached second base in 8.23 seconds -- his fastest home-to-second time since Statcast™ began recording that data. Schwarber rounded the bag hard with designs on a triple, but third-base coach Brian Butterfield held him up with an easy double since there were no outs in a 5-5 game.
Schwarber took third on Addison Russell's single and scored a go-ahead run on Jason Heyward's sacrifice fly.