KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Bryce Harper saw the missed call on his phone Wednesday after the Phillies got off the field.
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Rob Manfred wanted to chat.
The last time they talked, almost a year ago, it ended with Harper telling the commissioner to “get the [heck] out of our clubhouse” if he wanted to propose a salary cap in baseball.
But Manfred had something less divisive on his mind. He wanted to use his one selection to name Harper to the National League team for the 96th All-Star Game on July 14 in Philadelphia.
“Yeah, he called me and told me I was going to be his pick,” Harper said Sunday. “He said that I’ve had a great first half, and I think the numbers kind of speak for themselves. I think I had an opportunity [to be an All-Star]. Obviously with the fan vote it didn’t happen, so he gave me the opportunity. Definitely grateful for that and excited to be there.”
So, Harper and Manfred are pals now?
Harper laughed.
“No, I’m just grateful for the opportunity,” said Harper, a nine-time All-Star, with more selections than any active player except Mike Trout (12), Chris Sale (10), and Freddie Freeman (10). “He left me a voicemail during the game and told me he wanted to talk about the All-Star Game. I wasn’t sure what the question was going to be at that point, but then we talked and he let me know.
“I think I deserve to be in the game for the way I’ve played, so definitely grateful for it.”
Indeed, entering Sunday’s games, Harper was tied for 11th in the majors with a .903 OPS and was among 15 players with at least 20 home runs. He was batting .274 with a .374 on-base percentage.
The numbers are notable. Last October, in a season-ending news conference, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski wondered aloud if Harper, at age 33, was still elite.
A few days ago, Harper said a reporter asked him if he has answered the question.
“It’s like, I don’t care,” Harper said. “It’s up to you guys to decide that. Every year, I come in and I’ve got an opportunity to be great at what I do, you know? Like I said, the numbers show right now, they speak for themselves.
“But I know they can be better. I know I can be better. I’m going to enjoy it, obviously. But I think I can be better than what I’m doing right now.”
Harper figures he can always swing at fewer pitches out of the zone or draw more walks. The Phillies have four other All-Stars: Kyle Schwarber, Cristopher Sánchez, and first-timers Brandon Marsh and Jhoan Duran. Marsh is a starter in the National League outfield; Sánchez might be the starting pitcher.
But it wouldn’t have been an All-Star Game in Philly without Harper, the city’s biggest baseball star.
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The question now: Will he be in the Home Run Derby?
Harper remains noncommittal. Health isn’t a problem. After dealing with wrist and back issues over the past few seasons, he said his “body feels great.” He has started every game so far this season.
The biggest issue: Finding a pitcher. Harper’s dad, Ron, did the honors in 2018, when Harper won the Home Run Derby in Washington, but hasn’t thrown batting practice in four or five years.
Harper’s phone has been buzzing with offers.
“A couple ex-players that throw BP now to their kids and stuff,” he said. “I think I can trust a couple of them, but it’s just hard for me, to tell you the truth, not being able to do it with somebody that I’m super comfortable with. You can’t just pick somebody random to go out there.
“I’m not going to do something if I’m going to have a half-mentality towards it. If I’m going to do it, I want to be full bore and very confident in winning. Because I’m not going to do it unless I’m going to try to win it. Like, I’m not going out there just to have fun. I want to win the thing.”
Chalk it up to a competitive streak that continues to fuel Harper in his 15th major-league season.
None other than Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly, a six-time All-Star as a player, marveled at Harper’s nine All-Star selections for both the longevity and level of excellence.
“I think the first thing that comes to mind is, ‘Not enough,’” said Harper, who has five years left on his Phillies contract and a desire to play beyond that. “I’ve been in the game a long time. Nine’s a big number. But hopefully I’ll have more after the next couple of years.
“Every number or anything that I look at right now, it’s just I always kind of tell myself ‘not enough,’ you know? Just got to keep going, keep wanting more, and then hopefully get there.”
Dan Baker has been the Phillies’ public-address announcer for 54 seasons, the longest active run and third-longest all-time. And on July 14, he will become the first PA announcer to work three All-Star games. He sat down with “Phillies Extra” to discuss his memories from 1976 and 1996 at Veterans Stadium, his favorite names to announce, and more. Watch here.
You can also subscribe to the podcast version of Phillies Extra on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Previous episodes: Ricky Bottalico | Preston Mattingly | Caleb Cotham | Larry Bowa | Joe Maddon | Rhys Hoskins | Terry Francona | Aaron Rowand | Hunter Pence
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