Phillies' Bryce Harper Announces Personal Decision on Friday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Dec 5, 2025 10:12 PM ET

The Philadelphia Phillies are running out of time to win a World Series with their current core, and this offseason the front office is expected to make changes after failing to advance past the NLDS in back-to-back years.

Still, the team will continue to build around Bryce Harper, who has transitioned to first base full-time and remains the focal point of the lineup alongside other elite talents.

Harper is coming off another strong season in Philadelphia. The 33-year-old veteran posted a .261 batting average, .357 on-base percentage, .844 OPS, 27 home runs and 75 RBIs across 132 games.

Harper has now spent seven seasons in a Phillies uniform, still chasing the elusive World Series championship that would cement his legacy in the city.

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) © Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

As Harper momentarily shifts his focus away from baseball, he is still doing everything possible to keep his body in peak condition ahead of the 2026 season. On Friday, Harper took to social media to announce he had undergone a procedure, sharing details, posting an image of the process and thanking his doctor.

“EBOO is a procedure in which 1/3 of your blood is drawn from your body, passed through a filtration and ozonation device, and then returned to your bloodstream,” he wrote on Instagram.

He then added the benefits in the post, which read, “This will: Improve circulation, Reduce inflammation, Fight infections, Support immune function, Remove toxins, Increase energy.”

Harper’s MLB legacy is already secure, even as he continues to chase the ultimate prize. The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft debuted with the Washington Nationals in 2012 and immediately lived up to the hype, winning Rookie of the Year.

Over 14 seasons, he has collected two MVP awards, eight All-Star selections and four Silver Slugger honors, cementing his place among the game’s most established players. His decision to sign a 13-year, $330 million contract with Philadelphia in 2019 reshaped the franchise, making him the face of the Phillies.

Yet this offseason has not been without drama. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski publicly questioned whether Harper could rise to an MVP level again. Harper acknowledged he was hurt by the comments, though the two later cleared the air.

The remarks sparked speculation about Harper’s long-term trajectory, especially as he enters the back half of his contract. Ultimately, whether Harper can reclaim his MVP form may determine if the Phillies’ championship window stays open or shuts.

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

More must-reads: