The Philadelphia Phillies are having a great season. They are tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in Major League Baseball and have nine games remaining. First Baseman Bryce Harper has been a huge key for them this season. While he hasn’t hit as many home runs this year, he has shown that he is still one of the best hitters in the game.
Strong Year By Harper
The first baseman in a regular role throughout, Bryce Harper has been fantastic, hitting .288/.375/.534 with 29 home runs and 86 RBI. His OPS+ is 152. That’s how valuable he has been to the Phillies. He has stepped it up in the last 28 days, hitting 354/.431/.594 with three home runs and 13 RBI. That type of performance is why another top-10 finish in National League MVP voting is expected.
Despite impressive individual numbers to open the season, MLB released its hitter power rankings last week, and Harper was only listed as an “honorable mention.” The decision sparked the reaction of fans and analysts alike, who could hardly believe that the player with such credentials and the current performance did not enter the top 10 list. Especially considering the level of his involvement in the fortunes of the Phillies.
Harper and Arraez Comparison
One name that comes off the page in these rankings is Luis Arraez. The truth is, he’s had an outstanding year, and many feel he’s not being appropriately ranked. In and of itself, the fact that he doesn’t strike out much would not have been enough to pump him above two-time MVP Harper. Harper’s .909 OPS ranks him ninth in the MLB, while Arraez put up a .747, which ranks 68th. This stark contrast explains why many fans are upset about the rankings.
We now dig deeper into the stats and find that Harper carried a huge 70 hits from extra-base hits of his 150 total hits for this season. Likewise, only 34 extra base hits are added to Arraez’s total of 194. This means Harper is on base, but he does so with a lot of power. Where he has more swing-and-miss-this-season totals at 126 in comparison with 28 of Arraez, he walks significantly more than Arraez, 72 in comparison to 24 walks drawn. Thus, the numbers have very much to say about Harper’s offensive contributions being more dynamic.
Fans Are Disappointed But Supportive
The Phillies fans were disappointed by the snub that Harper received. They knew that he had put in a lot of effort and had contributed much in terms of helping the team win. While they may not hate it, they believe that Harper deserves all the praise that comes his way. After all, he is an integral part of the Phillies’ push to attain a good postseason run.
Though perhaps being overlooked in recent hitter rankings, Bryce Harper’s influence on the Phillies cannot be overstated. He continues to prove to be one of the best hitters in baseball with a consistent performance. Although the rankings do not express it, the fans know who Harper is. As the season is coming to an end, they stay glued that Harper shall receive the accolades he deserves so much. Rankings aside, Harper is an integral part of the Phillies’ successful story, and this is what matters.
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