PHILADELPHIA— Heading into his fourteenth season in Major League Baseball, Bryce Harper has proven year in and year out he is one of baseball’s best.
After another excellent campaign in 2024, Harper finished towards the top of most offensive categories. Parlaying his stellar defense at first base into a Gold Glove nomination, Bryce got it done on both sides of the ball. His Phillies finished second in the league in total wins, and Bryce Harper again shined in the postseason.
Despite being excellent yet again, it almost felt like Bryce Harper got lost in the shuffle. Shohei Ohtani‘s arrival in the National League certainly stole the spotlight from the 2-time National League MVP. Strong seasons from Francisco Lindor, Ketel Marte, and rising star Elly De La Cruz often dominated the news cycle. Harper finished 6th in the National League voting for MVP this past season.
Even though he played at such a high level in 2024, the Philadelphia Phillies are going to need Bryce Harper to be even better in 2025. With the Los Angeles Dodgers loading up on talent, the New York Mets adding Juan Soto, and the Atlanta Braves getting healthy, the Phillies are going to have their hands full this upcoming season. A storybook season out of Harper might be what Philly needs to get over the hump.
The Challenge
If you ask Bryce Harper what his goal for 2025 is, he will respond with a variation of “to win the World Series.”
Bringing a title home to Philadelphia has been something Bryce has spoken about since the moment he arrived in 2019. He came within two wins of that goal in 2022 and has become obsessed with overcoming the bar the Phillies have set.
Beating the Dodgers, Mets, Braves, and all other National League challengers won’t be an easy task. LA won the World Series last season and has completely retooled their roster. It is not quite often you see a team coming off a championship add as much talent as the Dodgers have. Despite defeating Atlanta in the 2022 and 2023 playoffs, the Braves were not the same club in 2024. Injuries to their best players kept Atlanta from challenging Philly in the National League East. As much as fans wish to forget, the New York Mets did eliminate the Phillies in the Divisional series this past year. Adding Juan Soto makes New York that much more legitimate.
If they get past the N.L., the New York Yankees, Cleveland Guardians, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, and other American League contenders will try to rise to the occasion.
Harper’s Quest
Like any hero in a story, the chosen one must overcome the odds and save the day.
The adventure, or journey, is often known as a hero’s quest, and in Philadelphia’s story, Bryce Harper plays that role. Harper’s quest in 2025 is simple in theory but not in execution. Bringing the third championship in the history of Philadelphia’s baseball franchise will be his quest.
Bryce was brought to the Philadelphia Phillies to bring the franchise back to its glory days. Harper has accomplished every other feat there is during his six seasons in Philly. A World Series championship with the Phillies is what takes him from Hall of Famer to baseball legend.
With Spring Training set to begin in just over a week, chapter one of this story begins. All will witness how 2025 unravels for not just the Philadelphia Phillies, but all of Major League Baseball. 30 teams set their sights on championship glory. Only one club gets to raise the Commissioner’s trophy when all is said and done.
Will Bryce Harper overcome all odds and complete his story? Let the games begin.
Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
