All-star voting for the first stage has officially concluded. After five years, Bryce Harper is set to play in his first all-star game representing the Philadelphia Phillies. He received the most votes in the National League, which means he is automatically a starter for the all-star game and will not have to go into phase two. He was voted as an all-star in 2022 but could not participate due to his UCL injury. This will be the’ eighth all-star nod of Harpers’ illustrious career and his second with the Phillies.
Accolades as a Phillie
Bryce Harper has added several personal accolades since signing a megadeal with the Phillies in the spring of 2019, with 2021 being his best season so far.
Since then, the superstar has won an MVP (2021), NLCS MVP (2022), Hank Aaron Award (2021), two Silver Sluggers (2021, 2023), and was selected for All-MLB First Team (2021). It is an impressive resume that makes fans wonder how a player of Harper’s caliber hasn’t represented his current team yet. That is finally set to change now that he’s secured a spot after phase one of voting.
Bryce Harper’s season so far
Bryce Harper came into the 2024 season playing a new position: first base. The front office made this tough decision to help maintain Harper’s elbow. They have been rewarded with Gold Glove-caliber defense at a position they haven’t had it in for quite some time.
In his first season as a first baseman, Bryce Harper has found himself back in the MVP conversation, and according to ESPN BET, is currently second in odds (+200) to take home the trophy. Offensively, he leads NL first basemen in batting average (.305), home runs (20), RBI (57), OBP (.402), SLG (.585), wRC+ (172), BB% (14.1%), and OPS (.987). Defensively, he’s in a three-way tie for third in DRS (3), second in errors (2), and third in DAWR (0.0, min. 40 games). To say Harper has been the best first baseman this season would be an understatement.
Bryce Harper is one of what has the potential to be an all-star roster loaded with Phillies players. Some names you can anticipate seeing when voting is done are Alec Bohm, Zack Wheeler, Ranger Suárez, and perhaps even Trea Turner. The voting is now onto phase two, beginning June 30 at noon EST.
AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth
