Section 215
Fansided

Philadelphia Phillies: 3 reasons Bryce Harper is a legit MVP candidate

By David Esser

CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - MARCH 20: (EDITORS NOTE: Retransmission with alternate crop.) Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a double off Steven Matz of the Toronto Blue Jays in the fourth inning during a spring training game on March 20, 2021 at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - MARCH 20: (EDITORS NOTE: Retransmission with alternate crop.) Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a double off Steven Matz of the Toronto Blue Jays in the fourth inning during a spring training game on March 20, 2021 at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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Heading into year three of his 13 year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, expectations are once again high for Bryce Harper.

Harper has genuinely been fantastic since joining Philadelphia. His .903 OPS that he’s recorded over 215 games as a Phillie actually ranks a few points higher compared to what he posted as a member of the Washington Nationals.

Unfortunately though, Bryce hasn’t really seen his name re-emerge in that National League MVP conversation. Cody Bellinger won the award in 2019, followed by Freddie Freeman in 2020.

However, under the guidance of a revamped front office and a still-intact offensive lineup, we should all be expecting #3’s name to return to the MVP debate in 2021.

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3 reasons the Philadelphia Phillies have a legit MVP candidate in Bryce Harper:

Harper is healthy.

Harper suffered a lower back injury around midway through the 2020 season, an injury that ended up affecting him all the way through September (and even into the offseason). As someone who has dealt with years of back pain due to a weightlifting injury, I’m here to tell you that these types of ailments are no joke.

By the end of the year Harper was DHing more often than not, as he could barely throw a baseball.

However, prior to this injury, Bryce was absolutely in the race for an MVP last season. His OPS sat above 1.000 for the first few weeks of the regular season, and had the Phils finished above the Braves in the NL East, he totally could have edged out Freeman for the award.

A full winter’s worth of rest and rehab in the books, Bryce returning to that pre-back injury form that he was displaying in 2020 is enough in its own to put his name towards the top of the NL MVP shortlist.

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