Jul 18, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first base Bryce Harper (3) reacts in front of Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe (14) after hitting his second home run of the game during the eighth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
In his time in Philadelphia, Bryce Harper has done a masterful job of not talking about himself in a superlative fashion.
That is, until the past two weeks.
He had a breakout game, with his first four extra-base hit game of his career in San Francisco last week. Afterwards, he reminded everyone that he's one of the best baseball players on the planet.
But even then, he put a caveat on why he was saying it.
"I don't want to put that out there," he told reporters at the time. "But I know when I'm going well, I'm one of the best in baseball. I'm healthy. I'm strong. I feel great."
It was also after a 13-0 win.
A little over a week later, Harper became the first Phillie in eight years to have at least three extra-base hits in a game twice in a five-game span. This time, though, it was in a 6-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.
Harper had two homers and a double. He drove in four of the five Phillies runs. Kyle Schwarber drove in the other one with a solo homer.
That pitch was at his eyes 🤯
Bryce Harper unloads on this hanger! pic.twitter.com/UafC4kd2fP
The rest of the team was 3-for-26.
So, there was Harper, slowly sauntering to spot in the somber clubhouse where players begrudgingly talk to the media after a loss - and he decided to go there, again.
"This is the best I've felt in the last year, probably" Harper said. "I am healthy, strong, just trying to be the best player I can. I keep going out there, being number three, doing my job, and being one of the best in the game."
Make no mistake about it. When Harper says something, it is well thought out. It is purposeful. He's not an off the cuff guy. He's a pro. He knows what he's saying.
So why say it again?
Wait, before you answer... there's more.
Talking about maintaining his good swings even after a layoff for the All-Star break, Harper went there a third time.
"I just got to do it," he said. "I'm one of the best players in the game. I just got to keep doing it. Keep going. ... Just have the confidence in my ability to go out there and be who I am."
You know, one of the best players in the game.
Bryce Harper's second homer of the game brings the @Phillies within a run 👀 pic.twitter.com/pd2ZVCwRwZ
It may seem a little odd that he's taking this tact, but it makes sense. He has to be saying it almost as a reminder to himself - and the Phillies organization.
To himself, because he has to know that because of the injury he has dealt with this season, he's, up to this point, sort of been a second banana to Schwarber offensively, and sort of third in the pecking order of reasons for the team's successes behind the starting pitching as a unit as well.
But it's also got to be a message to the organization - you have one of the best players in the sport on your flawed roster. Let's not waste it and figure this stuff out.
"We got to be better one through nine," Harper added. "We have to keep plugging. Keep going. We can't play scared. We just got to go out there and be the team that we are. Obviously Dombo (President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski) is going to do his job and get what he thinks is best for our team, but we got the 26 guys in here that need to do the job every day and we got to be better."
But he might be asking for a lot.
J.T. Realmuto is hitting (.342 since June 1st), but it's mostly singles (41) - although he did have a leadoff double in the fourth inning Friday, his 10th in that span, but was stranded.
The rest of the lineup, though is woefully underperforming.
"He just needs to be Bryson," Harper said. "He's a great player. A great talent. He's just got to be himself. Just like everyone else in here. We just got to be ourselves - rely on all our talents and trust in our ability to go out there and play the game."
They do. The problem is, they aren't Bryce Harper. They aren't one of the best players in the game.
And without some added reinforcement to support one of the best players in the game, the Phillies will find themselves in a very precarious position - risking one of the best players in the game not playing in meaningful games in October.
