The Philadelphia Phillies’ $330 million superstar has faced heavy criticism for his cold bat against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he’s keeping things in perspective.
If the Phillies are eliminated by the Dodgers in the 2025 MLB playoffs, it will leave fans in Philadelphia haunted all offseason, wondering what might have been.
Game 1 slipped away after reliever Matt Strahm appeared to tip a pitch that Teoscar Hernández crushed for a three-run homer. Then, in Game 2, the Phillies’ furious ninth-inning rally fizzled after a controversial call from manager Rob Thomson to bunt with no outs and a runner on second.
At the heart of the team’s struggles has been their star-studded lineup — including franchise cornerstone Bryce Harper — going ice cold at the worst possible time. The frustrated home crowd let the players hear it, showering them with boos.
Harper, however, isn’t shying away from accountability. After Game 2, the two-time MVP said, “I love the fans. I boo myself if I get out. If we deserve to be booed, they spend their hard-earned dollars to support us. They expect greatness. We’ve got some of the best fans in baseball. They make me play better. I enjoy it.”
Off the field, Harper has been balancing heartbreak and joy. Just before Game 1, his wife, Kayla Harper, announced the birth of their newborn son, Hayes Three Harper, born October 2. The 32-year-old first baseman/outfielder admitted he was playing with a heavy heart, missing his growing family — which now includes four children: Krew (6), Brooklyn (4), Kamryn (1), and baby Hayes.
“I have an incredible wife,” Harper said with a grin. “She pushed that thing out in three pushes and 30 seconds — she’s an absolute monster.”
But the moment turned emotional when he spoke about fatherhood. “Holding your son for the first time,” Harper said, his voice cracking, “it’s one of the greatest moments of my life. I love my family. I love my kids. I love the game of baseball — but at the end of the day, my family means the most to me. I definitely miss him right now.”
