Wednesday’s game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Angels saw its fair share of runs. However, of the 23 hits in the game, one was most notable. In the bottom of the 8th inning, Philadelphia’s slugger Bryce Harper hit his 300th career home run.
BRYCE. HARPER.#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/zy0uCGTa6Q
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 30, 2023
Career home run No. 300? Bryceless. pic.twitter.com/RHCK0z9FAU
— MLB (@MLB) August 30, 2023
Phillies this Season
After an incredible run in the 2022 postseason, Bryce Harper had to recover from Tommy John surgery and missed the beginning of the 2023 season. When he returned to the team on May 2nd against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team was 15-16 and 4th in the National League East. Since he returned to the lineup, the Phillies are 59-42 and just finished a five-game winning streak. As a result, the Phillies are now 2nd place in the National League East and running away with the first Wild Card spot.
In August, the Phillies have been hitting home runs exponentially. This includes ten from Bryce Harper in August. This season, Harper is hitting .309/.402/.497 with 15 home runs and 55 RBI. The team has revolved around Bryce Harper, and when he is successful, so are the Philadelphia Phillies.
Harper’s Legacy and Future
Bryce Harper has become the 12th active player in the Majors to reach 300 career home runs. This includes 116 home runs during his time with the Phillies. Despite being 30 years old, Harper has 11 seasons in the majors. With at least seven years left in his contract with Philadelphia, he will likely hit more than 300 home runs. If Bryce averages 20 home runs a year and retires at 37, that will put him around 440 career home runs. If he keeps this pace and plays beyond his contract, he could even reach 500 home runs.
With two MVPs and seven all-star selections in his career, he will likely end up in the Hall of Fame. Although, there is still one other milestone that Bryce Harper could achieve by the end of the season. With his 300th career home run Wednesday, Harper has 1493 career hits. He would be the 24th active player to reach 1,500 career hits.
Main Photo Credits: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
