Demand for Bryce Harper’s spring training debut driving up ticket prices

Harper is expected to make his Grapefruit League debut with the Phillies on Saturday when the team hosts the Toronto Blue Jays at Spectrum Field. According to CBS Philly, it will cost fans a pretty penny to get into the ballpark to catch Harper’s first exhibition-game action in a Phillies uniform.

Two tickets in premium box 111 are going for $200 on StubHub as Harper will be the designated hitter in the Phillies spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Harper is expected to get a couple of at-bats.

Tickets in field box 115 are going for $161 each, while tickets in premium box 110 are selling for $150 on StubHub.

However, if you’re not looking to spend that much, there are $20 tickets to sit in the grass area for Saturday’s game.

There has been no shortage of hype surrounding Harper joining the Phillies after a protracted free-agency odyssey, and fittingly so. Harper jersey sales are shattering records, and the Phillies official team store at Citizens Bank Park actually ran out of Rs for jersey lettering due to the outrageous demand. It would appear even Harper is getting caught up in it all as well.

However, shelling out $200 — even $150, for that matter, although $20 seems somewhat tolerable — to see Harper potentially take a few at-bats in a meaningless exhibition game is utter craziness.