The Philadelphia Phillies secured a much-needed rebound win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night, earning an 8-4 victory after previously losing two out of three games in their last series against the same team. During the game, star first baseman Bryce Harper reached a significant career milestone, but afterward, he made it clear he has no plans of letting up anytime soon.
Harper delivered another impressive performance at the plate, collecting three hits and a walk in five trips. He drove in two runs, crossed the plate twice himself, and even added a stolen base for good measure. His milestone moment came in the fifth inning with an RBI single, a fitting way to further cement his status as one of the premier power hitters of his era.
Bryce Harper entered Major League Baseball as the top pick in the 2010 draft, selected by the Washington Nationals. Despite the heavy expectations that came with that status, Harper quickly rose through the ranks and made an immediate impact. He was named National League Rookie of the Year in 2012 and has since built an impressive résumé that includes eight All-Star selections and two MVP awards.
The one major accomplishment still missing from Harper’s career is a World Series title. He came close with the Nationals, but they captured the championship in 2019—the same year Harper left to join the Phillies on a 13-year, \$330 million deal. He reached the Fall Classic with Philadelphia in 2022, but they fell in six games to the Houston Astros.
The Phillies have remained among the league’s elite in recent years, and Harper continues to be a cornerstone of their postseason ambitions. On Friday, he reached a personal milestone by collecting his 1,000th career RBI with a fifth-inning single. Still, Harper emphasized he’s far from satisfied, summing up his mindset with a short but telling postgame remark:
“Not enough,” he said.
Bryce Harper, Phillies Looking to Keep on Picking up Wins vs. the Pirates
A key part of what makes Bryce Harper great is his relentless drive to keep performing at a high level night in and night out—and that’s exactly what he’s been doing early in the 2025 season. Through his first 44 games, Harper is off to another strong start, hitting .248 with seven home runs and 25 RBIs.
The Phillies find themselves once again in a tight race in the NL East, battling familiar foes like the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves for the top spot. That makes every win crucial, especially against teams like the Pirates. Philadelphia will be back in action Saturday night, with ace Zack Wheeler set to face off against Carmen Mlodzinski.
