Phillies Star Harper Ejected, Creates Viral Moment

Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper was ejected on Thursday night after arguing a call with third base umpire Angel Hernandez. On his way out, he created a viral moment and a memorable one for a fan.

The rest of the regular season is really just a formality for the Philadelphia Phillies.

They're already locked into the fourth seed of the National League side of the MLB Playoffs, so their remaining games don't mean a whole lot.

But that didn't stop Bryce Harper from treating a blown call on his checked swing like it was the most important moment of the season.

In the third inning, Harper checked his swing on a 3-2 count and should have drawn a walk.

Instead, during an appeal to third base umpire Angel Hernandez, the much maligned ump ruled that the star actually went around on the swing and called him out.

Harper erupted, immediately yelling at Hernandez to the point where he earned an ejection.

"It’s just bad, just all around," the superstar said after the game. "You’re grinding in that at-bat, facing a guy I’ve never faced before. I got to a 3-2 count, I took a slider down and in, obviously didn’t go. Wasn’t even thinking about [strike three] in that situation. I was taking my stuff off and I heard the crowd’s reaction, and I was just like, ‘There’s no way.'"

Bryce was just ejected for being correct pic.twitter.com/NUDPF9OOOB

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) September 28, 2023

Harper's ejection birthed a viral moment when he chucked his helmet into the stands and it ended up with a 10-year-old boy.

"I picked up the helmet, then four other grown men came for it," the Aaron Dorfman said. "At which point I saw [Hayden] standing next to me, and I decided the most effective way of possibly getting the helmet was saying, ‘Give it to the kid.’ Then other people started saying, ‘Give it to the kid.'"

That kid who got the souvenir of a lifetime was then able to get it signed by Harper.

"I’m probably going to put it in my room," Hayden Dorfman said when asked what he's going to do with the helmet.

Harper addressed his ejection after the game.

He said, "I never want to get thrown out of a game. I never want to be on that side of it and make somebody’s night in that situation, because this was our last game at home in the regular season. Not many of these people are going to be able to afford tickets to a postseason game. It’s a very tough ticket to get, especially with what we have right here. Getting thrown out of a game like that, it’s not fun. They might see me for the last time this year. I don’t like that."

The star also knows that he likely will have to send a check out to the league office as well.

"I'm gonna get fined for being right, again."