Bryce Harper showed no signs of rust on the first day of his rehab assignment on Tuesday. The Philadelphia Phillies‘ superstar homered in his first at-bat, hit another one later in the game, and drew two walks. One day later, Harper was right back at it.
Harper was again batting second for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Philadelphia’s Triple-A affiliate. Heading into the ninth inning, he was 2-for-4 with a double. The two-time National League MVP wasn’t done there, though. He came up with two outs and two runners on with the IronPigs down by a run.
Facing a 1-2 count, Harper went to the opposite field, sending a ball into the right-center field gap. It fell to the ground and rolled to the wall. With that, both runs scored and Harper had himself a walk-off double.
"They mob the reigning MVP!"
Rehabbing @Phillies slugger Bryce Harper wins it with a walk-off double for the @IronPigs! pic.twitter.com/MmiogzW519
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) August 25, 2022
Minor-league pitching isn’t doing much to fool Harper. Granted, there’s a small sample size, but in two games he’s slashing at .625/.700/1.625 with two home runs and two doubles.
No, but seriously, it would be very funny to see what Bryce Harper would do to triple-A pitching for a full season
— Michael Baumann (@MichaelBaumann) August 25, 2022
Bryce Harper is the greatest minor league baseball player of all time
— Sean Barnard (@Sean_Barnard1) August 25, 2022
But as fun as it is to wonder how Harper might do against minor-leeague pitching for a full season, there’s a more prevalent feeling out there. The Phillies — who are locked in a race for a Wild Card spot in the National League — can’t call Harper up soon enough.
Two homers last night and a walk-off double tonight
Sounds like Bryce Harper is ready to come back pic.twitter.com/JU1G8nfmAE
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 25, 2022
Bryce Harper walk off double. give him off tomorrow, call him up Friday. thanks. pic.twitter.com/DDGlC4RPgk
— Absolutely Hammered (@ah_pod) August 25, 2022
Bryce Harper appears to be ready.
A casual walk-off for the IronPigs during his rehab assignment. pic.twitter.com/PuiHbvK6us
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) August 25, 2022
"That guy's a pretty good baseball player."
J.T. is ready for Bryce Harper to return to the lineup 😂 pic.twitter.com/gqAEXNsJzI
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) August 25, 2022
We can also say that the Gwinnett Stripers — the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and Harper’s opponent on Tuesday and Wednesday — are growing tired of seeing him. Though, they have managed to keep their sense of humor over the two days, at least on social media.
Phillies prospect Bryce Harper goes deep to cut the Stripers lead 3-1. Admittedly, he looks like one to watch in the future.
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) August 23, 2022
Harper homers again to extend our deficit to 9-5.
Listen, if you only count the at-bats by people with less than two National League MVPs, we would be tied.
Life's about perspective.
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) August 24, 2022
Phillies prospect Bryce Harper walks it off to end the game. This guy has a bright future ahead of him if he keeps this up.
Final: Stripers 5, IronPigs 6
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) August 25, 2022
There’s certainly something to be said for not bringing him back too early. At the same time, though, it’s hard to imagine that his swing is going to get any more dialed in by continuing to face minor-league pitching.
That can only mean one thing — it’s time to get Harper back in the Phillies’ major-league lineup.
[Photo Credit: Minor League Baseball]
