Categories: Best Of 2023Phillies Beat with Destiny Lugardo

An emotional Bryce Harper reflects on baseball journey, love for Philadelphia

Bryce Harper hit two home runs in Game 3 of the NLDS. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire)

In his words, Bryce Harper is playing pressure-free baseball.

The Phillies superstar slugger has his mind set on winning the franchise’s first World Series title since 2008. His team took a massive step forward with a 10-2 thrashing of the Atlanta Braves in a pivotal Game 3 of the National League Division Series at Citizens Bank Park. They are one win away from pulling off one of the greatest postseason upsets in MLB history.

Harper posted yet another noteworthy postseason performance. He went 2-for-5 with two home runs and four RBIs. He became the seventh Phillie in team history to hit multiple home runs in a postseason game. He is now the all-time leader in home runs in National League Division Series history with 10.

More importantly, his three-run shot to the second deck was the swing the Phillies needed to rip away the series momentum from the Braves.

But all Harper could think about was how happy he is. His baseball journey led him to the place he always wanted to be. It began when he was by far the best player on the field as a 10-year-old boy, hitting nukes and getting heckled by opposing players and their parents. It continued when he got his GED and enrolled in junior college at 17 as he rode the fast track to the big leagues. As a 16-year-old on the cover of Sports Illustrated, he was labeled as baseball’s next big thing. “The Chosen One.”

The hard part was setting the goal of becoming the No. 1 draft choice and not backing down. He accomplished that in 2010. Thirteen years later, he’s here and has made enough money to ensure a comfortable existence for his family for generations to come.

All of this is extra.

“This is all cake, man. This is so much fun,” Harper said. “This is what it’s all about, just coming in here and playing the game that I love, and man, it’s not pressure anymore when you’re just playing and having fun. Those moments are — all the pressure is gone. You know, you’re just coming in here and playing the game and being the number one pick, trying to do that every step of the way.”

We can debate for years whether or not Harper will ever truly live up to the lofty expectations others have set for his career, but we do know that he has embraced Philadelphia like no other athlete has before and is well on his way to being one of the great Phillies of all time.

All he needs is a trophy.

Following his heroic performance in Game 3, Harper reflected on his love for Philadelphia in an emotional and poignant 15-minute press conference.

“I love this place,” Harper said. “Flat out, I love this place. There’s nothing like coming into the Bank and playing in front of these fans. Blue collar mentality, tough, fighting every single day. I get chills, man. I get so fired up. Man, I love this place!

“I signed here for a reason, to do everything I could to bring back a trophy to this town, to Mr. Middleton, to this organization. I got chills thinking about it, because that’s what it’s all about. I absolutely love this place.”

Harper is image conscious. He is aware of the narrative surrounding him and knows how to control it. Some say he “panders” when he speaks fondly of the team that employs him and the city he calls home, but really, what does he have to gain by faking it?

“I love every single person in this organization, fighting, clawing every single day to get back to that moment,” Harper said. “There were so many good times in ’07, ’08, ’09, 2010, ’11. And I want to get back to that moment into the postseason and playing in front of these fans and Red October.

“I could go on and on, man. There’s nothing like playing here, and Garrett Stubbs said it best, man. If you don’t like it, you can get out, because we don’t want you here, and we want to be able to come in each night and play our game, and they are with us every single step of the way.”

He embraces the story of the Phillies franchise. It’s a history defined by 10,000 losses and counting, numerous losing seasons and only two World Series titles in 139 years.

The Phillies have found the perfect man to lead them in their quest for three. It took a few years, but the team’s vision of a star-studded Phillies squad led by Harper dominating their way through October is coming to fruition.

Along with Harper’s performance, Nick Castellanos, a 100-million dollar signing prior to 2022, homered twice and joined Harper on the list of Phillies to hit multiple home runs in a postseason game. Trea Turner, one of his best friends in baseball and a fellow earner of $300 million, went 2-for-4 with a home run. Aaron Nola, one of the best homegrown pitchers in team history who is weeks away from signing a nine-figure contract, allowed only two runs across 5 2/3 innings to hold off the potent Braves lineup.

But Harper’s star shined above all others. The drama surrounding his clutch hits make his two home runs all the more memorable.

In Game 2 in Atlanta with the Phillies down a run in the ninth, Castellanos drove a pitch to deep right center field. The ball had a chance to carry out, but Braves center fielder Michael Harris II made an incredible dive at the wall.

Harper, being the aggressive base runner he is, was already around second base as the ball was caught. He slipped on his way back to the bag and before he could tag up at first, third baseman Austin Riley delivered a perfect throw across the diamond to get Harper out to cap off an incredible ending to a heartbreaking loss.

After the game, Atlanta shortstop Orlando Arica, with reporters present, yelled “Atta boy, Bryce” as the Braves celebrated the win.

Word spread quickly and Harper – and the rest of the baseball universe — was made aware. Teammates informed him.

“They just kind of told me, and they looked at me, and they were like, what are you going to do?”

Cameras caught Harper looking back at Arcia as he rounded the bases. Twice. He was coy when he was initially asked about the gesture, but opened up a little bit as he was pressed further.

“I mean, anytime anybody says something, right? I mean that’s what it’s all about,” Harper said.

In 22 career postseason games with the Phillies, Harper has nine home runs, 18 RBIs and a .775 slugging percentage.

“It’s such a great game that we play,” Harper said. “Like I said, I’m so thankful to play this game and have these moments and have these opportunities and play for such a great organization, and there’s nothing like it.”