Philadelphia Phillies star first basemanBryce Harper is in year eight of his mammoth 13-year, $330 million contract with the club. All he has done in the red pinstripes is hit.
The 33-year-old took a dip in production during the 2025 season, but has come back stronger for 2026. Harper has played in all 93 of Philadelphia’s games this season. The most he has played in their uniform was 157 in 2019.
This season, Harper is slashing .264/.371/.509 for an .880 OPS. He has clubbed 20 home runs and has 57 RBIs. He is on pace to tie his Phillies season home runs record of 35, which he did in 2019 and his 2021 NL MVP season.
Harper made an announcement to do with home runs on Thursday. The now nine-time All-Star will be competing in the Home Run Derby, saying “Derby at home? Sure why not?” in a post on Instagram this afternoon.
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The Phillies icon has appeared in two derby’s, 2013 and 2018 with the Washington Nationals. He won 2018’s contest in his home stadium at the time, Nationals Park.
Harper will finally return to the field, this time at his Phillies home in Citizens Bank Park. He is the sixth player to enter the competition. His 20 home runs are tied for fourth in that group with Boston’s Willson Contreras.
With two more spots to be filled, Harper will undoubtedly be the star of the show heading into next Monday night. There has not been a player to win the derby at home since Harper in 2018.
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The slugger’s teammate Kyle Schwarber has been linked to the Derby as well, but has yet to accept the invitation. If he were to, his MLB-leading 32 home runs (19 in Philadelphia) would certainly play in the derby.
The 2026 Home Run Derby will be played July 13, starting at 8 p.m. ET at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park. This is the first time the event will be held there.
