Apr 18, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first base Bryce Harper (3) reacts as he runs the bases after hitting a two RBI home run against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Bill Streicher
Bryce Harper took an 89 mph slider from former NL Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcántara in the bottom of the first inning Friday evening and hit it into the second deck in right field, an early statement as the Phillies defeated the lowly Miami Marlins 7-2:
The hitter will let you know. 💣
pic.twitter.com/mN1j2W7orS
This is hardly 2022 Alcántara. He lasted just two innings Friday, in what had been billed as a potential pitcher's duel between him and Zack Wheeler. After missing all of 2024 recovering from Tommy John surgery, Alcántara has a 7.27 ERA to show after his first four starts of 2025.
Nonetheless, it was Harper's third home run in four games. The eight-time All-Star already has five homers this season, and it's only April 18.
"Yeah, he's swinging the bat, that's for sure," Rob Thomson said postgame. "Looks like he's got his timing down. He's got a lot of length through the zone. So, he's swinging the bat good."
Rob Thomson said there’s no physical concerns with Bryce Harper, who he’s obviously been impressed by this week. pic.twitter.com/8aDfijV78F
In 2019, when he hit 35 home runs — his most in a single season since joining the Phillies — Harper had six bombs at the conclusion of April. It's a long season, and Harper will need to stay healthy. The last season that he didn't spend at least 10 days on the injured list was in the pandemic-shortened campaign of 2020. Prior to that, it came in 2019, his first season in red pinstripes. But if Harper can avoid losing time due to back discomfort, a hamstring strain or something more major, his quick start in terms of home runs makes you wonder whether this could be the year he puts up his largest power output as a Phillie.
Frankly, Harper has some lost time to make up for. Because of COVID-19, his age-27 season — which, in theory, should have been one of his most productive power years — was limited to 60 games. An errant Blake Snell pitch broke Harper's left thumb in June of 2022, limiting him to 99 games in his age-29 season. In 2023, he missed all of April as he recovered from Tommy John surgery, and it took him some time to regain his power when he did come back.
Don't get it twisted, after Friday's bomb, Harper now has 341 career home runs. That's nothing to scoff at. But Manny Machado — as great a player as he is — has 344 career home runs, despite never having been seen as more of a power threat than Harper. Aaron Judge, who wasn't a full-time player until he was 25, isn't far behind at 322. At one point, 600 home runs appeared to be a real possibility for Harper. 500 still seems probable, but considering he'll turn 33 in October, it can't be viewed as a lock.
Zack Wheeler on Bryce Harper’s big week 💣
(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/YyFakiTVIK
Of course, if Harper approaches the career-high 42 home runs he hit a decade ago when he won NL MVP as a member of the Washington Nationals, 500 will start to feel like more of a certainty. Heck, maybe 600 couldn't be ruled out altogether, especially considering Harper has talked about wanting to play into his 40s.
More pressing, obviously, is the 2025 Phillies, a group that may be in their last run together. It certainly won't shock you, but the Phillies are now 4-1 in games where Harper homers this season. On a club that has questions regarding both lineup and bullpen depth, the best thing for Thomson's squad would be for another MVP-level season from Harper. So far, so good, particularly in the power department.
