Bryce Harper top vote getter at DH, likely to start 1st all-star-game as member of the Phillies
During Bryce Harper’s three plus seasons as a member of the Phillies, he has taken home numerous awards, including a National League MVP and a Silver Slugger, yet somehow has never been chosen to wear the red pinstripes in the annual All-Star Game.
But that is about to change, as according to sources, Harper is the leading vote-getter to start at the designated hitter position in the mid-summer classic, set to take place Tuesday July, 19th in Los Angeles, CA.
As of June 21st, Harper has received 1,059,433 votes, one of just three NL players to have received more than one million votes and nearly double the amount of the Braves William Contreras, who is in second place as a DH.
Odubel Herrera, Pat Neshek, Jonathan Papelbon, and DOMINIC BROWN! Those are the names of a few Phillies that have made the All-Star game over the last ten seasons. So its honestly a little insane that Harper isn’t among that list of all-time-greats.
Bryce Harper is absolutely killing the baseball at the plate this season, despite spending the majority of his games nursing a torn UCL ligament that has kept him from playing his usual position in right field. Through 60 games, Harper is slashing .326/.391/.622 with 15 HR and 48 RBI. His OPS+ of 184 is actually better than his MVP season in 2021 and the second highest of his career. Arguably only his 2015 season in Washington in which he won his first NL MVP has been better.
This would be the seventh All-Star selection for the 29-year-old slugger who made the squad in all but one of his first seven seasons with the Nationals.
As for the all-star chances for the other member of the Phillies, its looking quite bleak. In an unthinkable turn of events, JT Realmuto has struggled this season and is currently outside of the top-five in voting at catcher. In a crowded field at first base, Rhys Hoskins has been unable to crack the top-ten while fellow infielders Jean Segura, Didi Gregorius, and Alec Bohm are all outside of the top-five.
Among outfielders, Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos are currently 14th and 20th respectively after both experiencing struggles to being their first season in South Philadelphia.
Pitchers aren’t selected by the general public in the same way as fielders, but I would fully expect Zack Wheeler to be a part of the roster if the game were played today. Wheeler is currently 6-3 with a 2.69 ERA, 1.038 WHIP, and K/BB ratio of 5.28.
If the Phillies can continue their blistering start to June, there is a good chance that Harper and his teammates will garner more attention to make the team. But to make it happen you have to VOTE!
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Mandatory Photo Credit: Philadelphia Phillies
