Kyle Schwarber, Colson Montgomery Have Chance To Break Not So Great MLB Record

Colson Montgomery of the Chicago White Sox and Kyle Schwarber both have a chance to break the single-season strikeout record this year.

The record for strikeouts in a season by a batter is 223 strikeouts, set by Mark Reynolds in 2009. It's not a glamorous record to own, but it does not always mean a player had a terrible season. Over the years, many players have come close to beating Reynolds' record. Most recently, James Wood struck out 221 times last year, but had an .825 OPS and 31 home runs.

This year, Schwarber is at 210 strikeouts, and Montgomery is at 209. Montgomery struck out a bunch last year as well, but had a .840 OPS in 71 games. This year, his OPS is .712. However, he has been an important player for the Chicago White Sox, blasting 31 home runs in their unexpected season.

Schwarber has had the kind of season that makes teams completely forget about the strikeouts. He has a league-leading 44 home runs and an .869 OPS. Reynolds hit 44 home runs during his 2009 season.

Montgomery and the White Sox and Schwarber and the Phillies each have 12 games left this season. Both have a real chance to break Reynolds' record, but they have already put together great seasons. Their success, despite the strikeouts, is a glimpse into the modern offensive philosophy. Every team is chasing the long ball and is more willing to look past strikeouts.