Philadelphia Phillies Boss Confirms Harper Will Man First Moving Forward
The Philadelphia Phillies have a new, permanent first baseman and his name is Bryce Harper.
During Wednesday’s MLB general manager meetings in Scottsdale, Ariz., Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said that the plan moving forward is for Harper to be the team’s first baseman.
That solidifies the Phillies’ plans moving forward in a few areas.
First, Harper now has clarity on his role in 2024. Harper moved to first base midway through the 2023 season in an effort to get him in the field after his impressive recovery from Tommy John surgery. Harper wasn’t well enough to make throws from the outfield. But he was capable of handling the fielding duties at first base.
By putting him at first base, this lessens the chances of Harper getting injured and could extend what could be a Hall-of-Fame career.
Despite his injury rehab, he played in 126 games, slashed .293/.401/.499/.900 with 21 home runs and 72 RBI and helped the Phillies reach the NLCS. Those are the kinds of power numbers you want from a first baseman.
Second, it means that former first baseman Rhys Hoskins is probably done in Philadelphia. He tore his ACL and missed the entire 2023 season. The Phillies decided not to make him the qualifying offer, which would have paid him $20 million in 2024 had he signed it.
Now, Hoskins can fully test the market, and at least one publication believes his best fit is with the Colorado Rockies.
Finally, the Phillies can sort through their outfield options. Philadelphia has plenty under contract, with seven on their 40-man roster — Nick Castellanos, Jake Cave, Brandon Marsh, Simon Muzziotti, Cristian Pache, Johan Rojas and Kyle Schwarber.
Schwarber seems to have settled into a full-time DH role, though he can certainly play the outfield. But Castellanos, Marsh and Rojas handled the bulk of the work down the stretch, with Cave and Pache filling in where needed.
Given what the Phillies have under contract and the desire to keep Harper healthy, locking him in at first base makes plenty of sense for 2024 — and beyond.
