Bryce Harper loves October! It’s not the pumpkin spice lattes, the Halloween decor, or even his birthday though. This time of the year is when dreams come true for baseball players. Harper’s mindset is clear—the postseason is his time to shine. He has geared up, and this Saturday is his chance to show what he is made of. The Phillies go against the New York Mets for Game 1 of the National League Division. It is also Harper’s 50th playoff game.
Over the past two seasons, Harper has been leading all players in hits, game runs, and OPS in the playoffs. After he transitioned to first base post-surgery, he has been a nightmare for the Mets, boasting a.298 average and four home runs against them this year. He has a playoff batting average of .324 and an OPS of 1.137 in recent years, which means he thrives off the pressure. And his friends say, Harper isn’t scared of being great, and that is the biggest threat to his opponents as they come to face him.
Bryce Harper makes everyone’s heart flutter!
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Sometimes, attitude in the field gets half the job done. Harper, with his build, his outlook, and everything, when approaching the field, just makes everyone’s heart on the mound flutter with anticipation. Kyle Schwarzer captures that moment perfectly, saying, “We all laugh about it, right? But everyone always thinks that something cool’s going to happen. We all think that because he’s proven it.” Harper’s colorful career, his early accolades, and his drive have made him a clutch player to look out for.
For the Philadelphia Phillies, the past few seasons were painful—oh-so-close losses! They fell short of the World Series title in 2022 and bowed out in the NLCS last year. Now they have a fine-tuned roster, which can help them achieve success. Harper is taking the charge—and there can’t be any other better person for the job; even Trea Turner can agree on this.
Turner highlighted that Harper has a desire to be great! “I’ve heard him say before that some people are scared to be great, and that’s obviously not him. He wants to be great,” said Trea Turner. According to him, Harper is actively looking for challenges; he wants them, and he desires to come out as the hero. And well, now is Harper’s chance to shine. So it’s a given that he will give in 100%—although he already is having one of the most phenomenal seasons.
Bryce Harper’s teammate compares him to LeBron James
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As the Philadelphia Phillies step into the October season, there is a buzz in the air. After two thrilling playoff runs, this season feels different. It seems like they might make it far this time, and all eyes are on Bryce Harper. He isn’t just any other player; one could call him the heartbeat of the team – Harper has batted 285, hit 30 home runs, and drove in 87 runs, making the driving force behind the Phillies’ success. So, fans are expecting everything magical to happen anytime Harper steps on the field.
Moreover, Harper’s teammate has hyped him up plenty. Trea Turner compared Harper to the iconic LeBron James. “It’s the same thing with LeBron. They’re so good at such a young age, and then it’s kind of expected of you, but when they’re good people and it doesn’t go to their heads—that’s the more impressive part,” via Jeff Passan of ESPN. And it’s true, there are so many things that could go wrong, and it’s shocking too when talented youngsters don’t let fame get to their heads.
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When the Phillies signed Harper with a massive contract, there was skepticism. Just like there was when the Dodgers signed with Ohtani! However, while the first year with the Phillies wasn’t the best for Harper, look where he is now. He has risen to the occasion and is proving that he’s not just about the hype—he’s about results. As the Phillies gear up for the postseason, they’re well aware of the challenges facing teams that get a bye to the NLDS. The history hasn’t been kind to them, and it’s a fact. However, they are determined to break that trend this year, with Harper all hands on deck.
Do you think he can make it to the end? Let us know in the comments.
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