Bryce Harper, the Philadelphia Phillies’ star outfielder, found himself in the midst of a career-high slump, prompting him to make a significant change in his appearance.
Harper, who had not recorded a hit since launching his 300th career home run on August 30th at Citizens Bank Park, decided to shave his beard on Tuesday, hoping to change his luck.
In response to questions about his new look, Harper remarked: “I mean, you guys know. Everybody knows.” This alteration in his appearance seemed to be a last-ditch effort to break free from his hitting woes.
Bryce Harper with a new look 👀 pic.twitter.com/kDT1kxpeTZ
— MLB Life (@MLBLife) September 6, 2023
Harper’s fortunes took a turn for the better yesterday when he snapped his 20 at-bat hitless streak during the Phillies 5-1 victory over the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
In the fourth inning, with two outs on the board, Harper smashed a two-run double to right-center field, providing the Phillies with a three-run lead. This clutch hit not only ended his personal drought but also helped maintain the Phillies’ hold on the #1 National League Wild Card spot, with only 23 games left in the regular season.
As it stands, the Phillies (77-62) maintain a 1.5 game lead over the Cubs (76-64) for the top NL Wild Card position.
Harper, however, is not taking this turnaround lightly, stating: “Swinging at pitches out of the zone again. I do that, I’ll hit .150 the last month, and it won’t be good. Just got to keep going.”
Phillies manager Rob Thomson had even suggested giving Harper a day off after Tuesday’s loss to the Padres. But Harper, determined to contribute to the team’s success during a crucial stretch of games, declined.
“Absolutely not. We’re in the middle of this thing. Trea’s not here. We’ve got to go,” he said.
Shortstop Trea Turner, currently on the paternity list, is expected to rejoin the Phillies on Friday. Turner has been a key contributor to the team’s success, and his return is eagerly anticipated.
On the pitching front, ace Zack Wheeler delivered an outstanding performance, pitching six scoreless innings, striking out seven, and forcing an impressive 19 swings and misses. Wheeler’s recent string of impressive outings has bolstered his candidacy for the NL Cy Young award, providing much-needed stability for the Phillies rotation.
Kyle Schwarber set the tone for the game with a leadoff home run, his 10th of the season, breaking a franchise record previously held by Jimmy Rollins. J.T. Realmuto also contributed with a home run, his third in the past four games.
Thomson summed up the team’s mentality, stating: “They can smell it, and they’re going for it.”
Despite his recent struggles, Harper remains committed to helping the team succeed any way he can, concluding: “You’re going to go through spurts when you’re playing good baseball and spurts when you’re playing bad. I’ve got to stay in the lineup for the boys.”
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