Phillies news and rumors 9/3: Bryce Harper’s August reminded Trea Turner of 2015

Bryce Harper (and Trea Turner) had an August to remember. (Zac BonDurant/Icon Sportswire)

Whenever you do something that reminds someone of one of the greatest offensive seasons in baseball history, you know you’ve done something right.

That’s what Bryce Harper did in the month of August — at least, through the eyes of Trea Turner.

The two players who powered the Phillies to their 17-10 month have seen each other succeed more than anyone else on the roster: Their days as teammates date back to 2015, well before either had signed his respective $300-plus million contract in Philadelphia.

That’s why Turner’s interview with FOX Sports‘ Ken Rosenthal before Saturday night’s game in Milwaukee held a little extra sense of credibility.

“It reminded me of 2015,” Turner said when asked about Harper’s August, “when he won his first MVP.”

On its face, it sounds absurd to compare anything to Harper’s 2015 season, one of the best in baseball history. He posted a .330/.460/.649 slash line — a ridiculous 1.109 OPS, while walloping 42 homers en route to unanimous National League MVP honors.

But the numbers actually bear Turner’s argument out, because Harper’s August 2023 was even more bonkers: He slashed .361/.452/.784 (!) for a 1.236 (!) OPS, and 10 homers in 27 team games — a 60-homer pace over a full 162.

Of course, the huge caveat here is the duration. Harper sustained his 2015 numbers for 153 games, while August’s tear came over 26. No one — even Turner — is suggesting that Harper’s month of August stacks up to his entire 2015 season.

Still, the fact that the only player who witnessed both that historic season and that historic month up close is drawing similarities between the two slightly helps put things in perspective.

And Turner was able to appreciate both of those stretches despite each coming at a significant time in his own career. 2015 was Turner’s first season in the Majors — he debuted at 22 as an upper-tier prospect while Harper, also 22 but in his fourth season in the big leagues, won that first MVP. Eight years later, Harper’s August tear came while Turner turned his 2023 season around by enjoying the third-best full month of his career, measured by his 1.043 OPS.

But as great as Turner was last month, and as much as August’s narrative centered on his turnaround, it wasn’t enough to make him lose sight of what Harper did. No one has seen Turner succeed as a big leaguer more than Harper, and Turner provided a reminder on Saturday that the reverse is certainly true as well.

Must-read (or watch) Phillies content

Phillies Nation‘s Ty Daubert has the recap of Saturday’s tough loss, in which Aaron Nola struggled mightily.
Nola himself didn’t hold back on his outing: He said he “just stunk,” as Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes.
Lauber also wrote about the loose grip that helped Turner to his incredible August.
The Athletic‘s Matt Gelb wrote about the Phillies’ recent bullpen concerns, highlighted by José Alvarado’s Friday struggles.
ICYMI — Phillies Nation‘s Destiny Lugardo wrote about the three toughest opponents the Phillies could face in a (hypothetical) Wild Card Series.
This was an absolute rocket from Darick Hall: