All eyes on Bryce: His path back to the ‘elite’ and what he needs from the Phils originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
A little over a month ago, Dave Dombrowski sat in the media room at Citizens Bank Park, across from reporters, following the Phillies’ fourth straight playoff exit.
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The president of baseball operations kept things honest — maybe a little too honest.
Perhaps the most important takeaway from his 54-minute end-of-season press conference concerned Bryce Harper. Dombrowski was candid about the two-time MVP’s 2025 campaign and his future prospects.
“He’s still an All-Star caliber player. He hasn’t had an elite season like he has in the past. And I guess we’ll just know if he becomes elite or if he continues to be good,” he said. “Can he still take it to the next level? I don’t really know that answer. He’ll be the one to dictate that more than anything else.”
Dombrowski continued: “I don’t think he’s happy with the year he had. And again, it wasn’t a bad year. But when you think of Bryce Harper, you think elite, right? You think of one of the 10 best players in baseball, and I don’t think he falls into that category.”
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In 2025, Harper, 32, slashed .261/.357/.487 with 27 homers and 75 RBIs. His .844 OPS was his lowest in a season since joining the Phillies and his lowest total since turning 23 in 2016. He also played through nagging injuries.
He spent just over three weeks on the injured list in June due to inflammation in his right wrist – an issue he had experienced earlier in the season.
A week after the press conference, with trade talk swirling around Harper, Dombrowski went to Foul Territory and tried to turn things around.
“First of all, to me, Bryce Harper is one of the best players in baseball,” Dombrowski said. “Now I read that, oh, the Phillies might trade Bryce Harper. That couldn’t be further from the truth. We love him.”
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Still, Harper didn’t take Dombrowski’s initial comments lightly. In an interview with Matt Gelb Athleticshe said: “I’ve given my all for Philadelphia from the beginning. Now there are trade talks? I’ve done everything I can to avoid that… It makes me uncomfortable.” He later added: “It’s disappointing to hear myself being asked about my contribution to the team. It’s really hurtful by that notion because I love Philly so much.”
Harper, who has no opt-out and no-trade clause, pointed out why this all hurts. “I wanted these fans to know that Philadelphia is my home, so from the beginning, I made a commitment to stay here for the rest of my career. No refusal, even if I was advised otherwise,” he expressed. “Whether it’s a position change or an early return from injury, I show complete commitment to my team. And yet there are still trade discussions.”
So now that his “elite” status is under scrutiny, what can the Phillies expect from Harper in 2026?
Protect it.
Credit: Eric Hartline – Imagn Images
It all starts with programming help.
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Harper has lived in the 3-hole since his arrival in 2019. In 2025, he rarely had consistent protection behind him. The cleanup spot produced a .720 OPS – 20th in MLB – a sharp decline from his best years in Philadelphia.
Nick Castellanos and JT Realmuto carried most of those at-bats last season. Castellanos, 33, posted a .651 OPS in 214 plate appearances at all four spots; Realmuto, 34, had a .683 mark in 180 trips there.
These two names have already offered real protection to Harper.
His two best seasons as a Phillie came in 2021 and 2023.
In 2021, Harper posted a league-leading 1.044 OPS en route to a second MVP. As a team, the Phillies had an OPS of .819 – fifth best in the National League. Realmuto did most of the mop-up work that year and hit .287 with an .832 OPS in that role.
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In 2023, Harper slashed .293/.401/.499 (.900 OPS). The Phillies’ overall OPS jumped to .822, helped by Castellanos’ 15 home runs and .300/.339/.514 line in the four holes.
The pattern is obvious: When the cleanup site poses a threat, Harper’s numbers jump out.
In 2025, this was not the case. The Phillies need a steady right-handed hitter behind him.
The Alonso question and a first base pivot
Credit: Rick Osentoski – Imagn Images
One way to do this is the scenario that keeps coming up: Harper moving back to right field.
Dombrowski publicly pushed back on the idea this offseason, saying the front office views Harper as its first baseman. But if Harper moved back into the outfield, that would open the door to pursuing a true middle-of-the-order bat — someone like Pete Alonso.
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Alonso has hit 38 home runs and driven in 126 runs in 2025, while also leading the league in doubles. Even with a few twists and turns, that kind of production behind Harper would completely change the way pitchers game plan.
His market could be shaped by fellow first baseman Josh Naylor. On Monday, the 30-year-old signed a five-year, $92.5 million contract after a year in which he hit .295 with 20 homers, 92 RBIs and 30 steals. Naylor is two and a half years younger than Alonso, and his $18.5 million AAV could keep Alonso’s asking price from spiraling out of control.
If the Phillies want to push Harper back to the elite, adding a legitimate right-hander behind him is the clearest path.
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The analyzes point upwards, a little
Even though Dombrowski’s comments have been dissected, Harper’s underlying metrics in 2025 have actually moved in the right direction compared to his 30-homer, .898 OPS season in 2024.
His barrel rate, hard hit percentage, and bat speed have all increased. His walking speed has improved. His strikeout rate has decreased. The line on the back of the baseball card may have declined, but the numbers didn’t scream decline.
The lack of hitting pitches was also real. Todd Zolecki of MLB.com noted that among hitters who saw at least 200 pitches, Harper saw strikes only 43 percent of the time – the lowest rate among the 532 qualified players. This is what happens when there is a lack of protection.
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It’s fair for the Phillies front office to wonder if he’ll be “elite” again at age 33 and beyond. It’s also fair to point out that an .844 OPS during an injury-riddled season is still star-level production.
What to expect in 2026
Regardless of how you interpret the comments, there is no doubt about Harper’s dedication — or his importance to the Phillies. He has a no-trade clause, did not choose an opt-out option when signing, and has expressed his desire to finish his career in Philadelphia.
The front office’s responsibility now is simple: build a lineup that gives Harper a chance to produce at a higher level. It starts with real protection behind him.
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If Harper is healthy, it’s not hard to envision a return closer to his 2021 and 2023 production than he posted in 2025.
The word “elite” will be floating around Harper all season. Dombrowski and the Phils will expect star-level production from the eight-time All-Star — and Harper has made it clear he will do everything he can to make that happen.
