When Kevin Long reached out to Kyle Schwarber shortly after the slugger signed with the Washington Nationals, one thing quickly led to the next.
The Nationals’ hitting coach first texted Schwarber to offer his congratulations. But Long had already studied Schwarber’s swing, so he was full of ideas. Long mentioned the possibility of working with Schwarber ahead of spring training, and Schwarber was on board.
“I said, ‘Come out whenever,’” Schwarber recalled telling Long. “And he was like, ‘All right, I’ll be there in like three days.