Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper has a big trophy case.
Two National League Most Valuable Player awards. An NL Rookie of the Year award. MVP of the NL Championship Series. Seven All-Star Game selections. Three Silver Sluggers, including in 2023.
As individual achievements go, there isn’t much that Harper hasn’t done.
But there is one thing he never did as an outfielder and now he’ll attempt it as a first baseman and that’s win a Gold Glove.
Harper’s move to first base is a longevity move. The Phils are conscious of what the 31-year-old brings with his bat and he now has an injury history. With the recovery from his Tommy John surgery complete, the idea is to move Harper to a position where there will be less physical wear and tear and extend his career to the point where he can fulfill his current contract, which ends in 2031.
The Phillies believe in the move so much that they’re talking about extending Harper and let their everyday first baseman Rhys Hoskins walk after he missed all of 2023 with an ACL tear. He signed with Milwaukee.
Harper moved to first last year after he was recovered enough to play in the field, but not enough to throw from the outfield. He played 36 games at first base and has played just 38 games there in his career. Last season he had a solid .996 fielding percentage.
That’s a good baseline to start with. But, there is still work to be done. But, Phillies infield coach Bobby Dickerson recently told the Philadelphia Inquirer, in comments relayed by USA Today, that Harper has the tools to be a Gold Glove first baseman.
“I didn’t expect as good as I saw, honestly,” Dickerson said, “although I also knew this is Bryce Harper and the sky’s the limit for this guy. He’s such a talent, and he holds himself in such high expectation that I should’ve knew he was going to be fine. I felt he would be fine, but he was a little better than fine. … I think he could definitely be one of the best there.”
The Phillies need that bat in the lineup. Despite his injury rehab Harper played in 126 games, slashed .293/.401/.499/.900 with 21 home runs and 72 RBI and helped the Phillies reach the NLCS.
If he could add Gold Glove-level fielding to the mix, well that might net him a third MVP award.
More must-reads: