Phillies Star Bryce Harper's Reason for Wearing Mets Gear

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Aug 25, 2025 8:44 PM ET

The Philadelphia Phillies’ face of the franchise has been superstar Bryce Harper, who has spent the last seven seasons of his career with the organization.

Since arriving in Philadelphia, the city has fully embraced him, and Harper has lived up to his 13-year, $330 million contract.

The 32-year-old left-handed slugger has collected an NL MVP (2021), three Silver Slugger Awards, and two All-Star selections with the Phillies. He’s shown no signs of slowing down in 2025, posting a .263 batting average, .358 on-base percentage, .858 OPS, 21 home runs, and 60 RBIs across 102 games.

However, Harper is still chasing his first World Series title, and time isn’t on his side as he approaches his mid-30s.

Bryce Harper’s Mets-Colored Gear Draws Attention in Division Showdown

The Phillies entered Monday’s series opener against the New York Mets with a seven-game lead in the NL East, looking to deliver a finishing blow in the divisional race and secure back-to-back division titles.

During the game, Harper was seen wearing orange batting gloves and blue cleats—colors associated with the rival Mets—prompting confusion and curiosity among Phillies fans.

Bryce Harper single!! pic.twitter.com/q5ypHdZdt2
— cam ! (@aokstott) August 25, 2025

Harper’s “Rivalry Pack” Concept Explained

In the offseason, Harper spoke about his gear choices and how he likes to express himself on the field. He revealed plans to wear team-colored gear against specific opponents, calling it the “rivalry pack.”

In a YouTube interview with Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Harper said, "My favorite cleats that I’m going to wear are later this year. It’s actually the rivalry pack. With certain teams I’m going to wear their colors against them. When we go into a certain stadium, I’ll have their team’s colors as my cleats and my batting gloves."

The Mets-Phillies rivalry has intensified in recent seasons, with both teams trading blows. Most notably, the Mets eliminated the Phillies in the 2024 NLDS. Harper and the Phillies will look to flip the script this October in a potential rematch.

With the division lead in hand and Harper continuing to produce, Philadelphia is positioned to make another deep run—and Harper’s rivalry-themed gear might just be part of the psychological edge.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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