CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Long after Zack Wheeler and Jes¨²s Luzardo pitched a simulated game on Monday at BayCare Ballpark, Bryce Harper grabbed his first baseman¡¯s mitt.
A morning downpour had postponed his scheduled infield work, but he did not want to skip it. So, Phillies infield coach Bobby Dickerson hit balls to Harper, who moved around the infield in the empty ballpark for 30 minutes.
Last season, Harper established himself as one of baseball¡¯s best defensive first basemen in only his first full season playing the position. He could win his first Gold Glove this year. So, it was surprising when he first revealed to The Athletic that in the offseason he offered to return to the outfield, if the Phillies could acquire a big bat to play first base, like Pete Alonso, who was a free agent at the time.
It was surprising in part because Harper sounded so certain last spring that he would not play in the outfield again.
¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll move back out to right,¡± he said in February 2024. ¡°I don¡¯t. But never say never.¡±
¡°That¡¯s the thing,¡± Harper said the other day. ¡°I don¡¯t want to sit here and say they can never come to me. They¡¯ve told me multiple times: ¡®You¡¯re our first baseman.¡¯ They¡¯ve told you guys multiple times. But if they were to come up to me and tell me, ¡®Hey, we're going to get this guy at the Deadline,¡¯ or, ¡®The best thing for us is for you to move out there for a half-year or year,¡¯ I would do it. Obviously, I love playing first base. It¡¯s been great. I think I have the trust in my teammates to play there, too. But obviously, if there's a guy in the market that they want to go get at the deadline and I'm the easiest one to move back, I¡¯m in. The main goal is to win the World Series.¡±
That guy could be Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who has not yet signed a contract extension with the Blue Jays. But it that situation never presents itself, if the Phillies find other ways to improve this summer, Harper will remain the first baseman.
Harper is a two-time NL MVP, an NLCS MVP, Rookie of the Year winner, eight-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger. He is on a path to the Hall of Fame. But he has never won a Gold Glove.
¡°When I look at teammates with a Gold Glove, I¡¯m like, man, that¡¯s a really cool honor,¡± Harper said. ¡°To be able to do that at first base in my second year, that would be pretty awesome.¡±
He has a chance. Harper finished third in baseball last season with +8 Outs Above Average, according to Statcast. Only Minnesota¡¯s Carlos Santana (+14) and Arizona¡¯s Christian Walker (+13) ranked higher. Harper ranked fifth with five Defensive Runs Saved, according to FanGraphs. He finished behind Atlanta¡¯s Matt Olson (13), Santana (eight), Baltimore¡¯s Ryan Mountcastle (eight) and Walker (seven).
Walker signed with Houston in the offseason, sending last year¡¯s NL Gold Glove first baseman to the AL.
¡°I¡¯d like to think he could win a Gold Glove if Walker stayed in the league,¡± Dickerson said. ¡°I don¡¯t like to think, ¡®OK, he¡¯s next.¡¯ No. I think if he plays as the best version of himself, he can win it. He can play with anybody at that position when he¡¯s the best version of himself and that¡¯s what we¡¯re after.
¡°It¡¯d be great for him. He¡¯s got a couple open spots on his [trophy] shelf. The one he wants really, really bad is the World Series trophy. That¡¯s the biggest thing he talks to me about when we¡¯re working. He wants to fill that spot really bad. So, he¡¯s going to do everything he can. And if he¡¯s doing everything he can, a byproduct of that might be a Gold Glove.¡±
Asked what he loves about first base, Harper said, ¡°The work. In-game, I¡¯m in it. I¡¯m trying to make myself valuable out there. I love working with Bobby. It¡¯s fun. I enjoy being on the dirt again.
¡°But again, if that situation ever occurred, if the Phillies came up to me and said, ¡®We have an opportunity to go get somebody,¡¯ I would do it. Long term? I don¡¯t know. I love first base. But obviously if they say, ¡®We¡¯re going to win because of this guy,¡¯ put my hat in.¡±