UPDATE: Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper expressed his surprise and disappointment over comments made by president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski regarding his performance. Speaking to reporters in Clearwater, Florida, Harper revealed that Dombrowski’s public critique—suggesting the two-time NL MVP may no longer be classified as an elite player—left him “kind of wild” and questioning the decision to air such opinions publicly.
In a candid moment, Harper emphasized that he does not let external commentary affect his motivation. “I think the big thing for me was when we first met with this organization it was, ‘Hey we’re always going to keep things in-house,'” he said. This unexpected public review of his season and postseason performance took him by surprise, as he expected a more private assessment.
Harper’s 2025 season statistics—batting average of .261 and an OPS of .844—were below his usual elite standards, prompting Dombrowski to remark, “Can he rise to the next level again? I don’t really know that answer.” While Harper hit 27 homers and drove in 75 RBIs, his postseason performance was disappointing, going 3-for-15 with no RBIs in a four-game loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Division Series.
Harper, now 33 years old, is in the midst of a $330 million, 13-year contract, and he acknowledged that his production did not meet his own expectations. “Obviously, I didn’t have the year that I wanted… I know that, and I don’t need to be motivated to be great in my career,” he stated firmly, reinforcing his commitment to improving.
The Phillies’ management, including Dombrowski, has high hopes for Harper’s future contributions. “When I think of Bryce Harper, you think elite, you think of one of the top-10 players in baseball,” he added, indicating that while last season was not bad, it did not reflect Harper’s true capabilities.
As the Phillies prepare for the upcoming season, all eyes will be on Harper to see how he responds to this public scrutiny and whether he can reclaim his status as one of the league’s elite players. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see if Harper can bounce back from this critique and deliver a standout performance in 2026.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story as Harper and the Phillies gear up for the new season.
