Some athletes are destined for outstanding moments, but Bryce Harper owns them. It brings up the question, what exactly makes someone like Harper consistently show up? On Monday night, he had blundered in base-running to finish Game 2. As a taunt, Orlando Arcia, the shortstop for the Atlanta Braves, exclaimed, “Atta boy, Harper!“. The clubhouse mocked as he took a dig at Harper. But Harper is not a subtle one. 

Although Harper didn’t require the additional inspiration to demonstrate his monstrosity on the diamond, the Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson said, “Thank You” for giving it to him. In Game 3, Harper was back simply, hitting two home runs. These home runs were a slap on the face for Arcia, accompanied by glares as he approached second base each time. Slay! 

Braves’ Manager On The Harper-Arcia Face-Off

This dramatic episode has the world so much to read from between the lines. Bryce is not one to take things lightly, he goes all in. That said, it’s a pretty elaborate context for what the Braves manager had to say about this Harper-Arcia face-off.

As reported by MLB.com, Brian Snitker said, “He’s a Hall of Famer. He’s one of those guys that loves that stage. He’s a special player. You put him in the spotlight, and he’s going to shine”. Snitker believes that Arcia made it personal. For anyone who knows who Harper is, never make things personal with him! 

Harper has a 1.697 OPS, in the seven career playoff encounters against the Braves. In the history of playoffs, this turns out to be the second-best performance by a player against a single club, considering at least 25 plate appearances. The only other player who performed better was the San Francisco Giants’ Barry Bonds. That was against the Angels in the 2002 World Series, recording an OPS of 1.994. 

For the 30-year-old, getting back at Arcia was no big deal, as he admittedly is said to thrive in such situations. Quite a lot is owed to his childhood pressures, making his current tenure at MLB a piece of cake. His mantra is straight – just play and have fun. In Harper’s words, “it’s not pressure anymore when you’re just playing and having fun”. 

What Led To Bryce Harper Becoming the Man That We Know Today?

Bryce Harper had a rather competitive childhood that fueled him with a lot of pressure. He explained how he does well in scenarios like these.

“When I was 10 years old, 11 years old, I played in so many big tournaments. You guys couldn’t imagine the pressure of the situations, or going to [junior college] early and having everybody in the world relying on you to be the No. 1 pick. That was hard. You know, 17 years old, 16 years old, trying to be the No. 1 pick, knowing that if you’re not, you’re a failure”. As of now, he is a whiff of fresh air and all Bryce does is have fun! 

Read More : Moments After First Step Toward World Series, Phillies’ Bryce Harper Captivates Fans Heart With a Touching Message: “We Are a Family…”

Though there is lessened pressure, Bryce Harper’s goal since 2019 of winning the World Series remains. Will 2023 be the year that happens?  Well, while the Phillies are set to battle against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLCS in Citizens Bank Park, one can wait and watch. 

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