Three ways the Bryce Harper era has been a huge success for the Phillies

When the Phillies and Bryce Harper agreed to what was then a record-setting 13-year $330M contract on Feb. 28, 2019, it was a landmark signing in MLB history and a massive gamble by a franchise seeking to accelerate a rebuilding process and regain relevancy in the sport.  

Five years later, it’s safe to say the gamble has paid off. While the Phillies haven't been able win a World Series during Harper’s tenure so far, there have been several ways that his signing has benefitted the club. 

Turning the Phillies back into perennial contenders 

Harper was signed in the prime of his career and he’s delivered at the plate since moving to the City of Brotherly Love, hitting a total of 122 home runs in Phillies red while generating a .931 OPS, earning two Silver Slugger Awards and taking home the 2021 NL MVP. 

The Phillies competed for a playoff spot during Harper’s first three seasons, but didn’t finally break a lengthy postseason drought until until 2022, when they surged all the way to the Fall Classic as the sixth-seeded quad in the NL before falling to the Houston Astros in six games. The Phillies followed that up with a run to the NLCS in 2023, but lost in bitterly disappointing fashion to the Arizona Diamondbacks in seven games. 

Harper has shown a flare for the dramatic in the postseason, hitting a memorable go-ahead home run in Game 5 of the 2022 NLCS against the San Diego Padres as well as two mammoth blasts during Game 3 of the 2023 NLDS against the Atlanta Braves. 

Harper is the franchise’s co-leader in postseason home runs (11) and won the NLCS MVP in 2022. 

Making Philadelphia a popular place to play

The Phillies are once again an attractive organization for marquee players who reach free agency. Since Harper arrived in 2019, the team has signed big-name talents such as Zack Wheeler, Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos and Trea Turner. 

Besides the Phillies’ willingness to spend big and pay the luxury tax, Harper’s prior relationships with Turner and Castellanos played a factor in the team’s recruitment of those stars. 

Harper even spoke with Phillies owner John Middleton about pursuing both Schwarber and Castellanos prior to the 2022 season, a sign of the influence he has within the organization. 

The star-studded lineup the Phillies have constructed around Bryce has become one of the most potent in baseball, a key driver of their success and a huge reason fans flock to Citizens Bank Park. 

Reinvorgating the fan base 

The 2023 Phillies season was first since 2013 in which more than three million fans walked through the gates at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies ranked sixth in the majors in attendance last year, drawing an average of 37,686 per game. 

During the past two postseason runs, the fan base, which includes many wearing Harper jerseys, has turned “The Bank” into one of the most intimidating environments in sports — something that certainly wasn’t the case before Harper’s arrival. 

ESPN Analyst Jeff Passan even compared playing a postseason game in Philly to an SEC football game. Getting that level of buy-in in a passionate sports city has helped set expectations to sky-high levels. 

Oddsmakers expect the Phillies to be contenders in 2024. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, only the Dodgers (+170) and Braves (+255) have shorter odds to win the National League pennant. The Phillies are currently +800 to win the NL.