The Moment is Never Too Big for Bryce Harper, Who Once Again is Carrying the Phillies on a Red October Run

Bryce Harper’s teammates were the first to catch wind of the now infamous Orlando Arcia comments following Game 2 of the NLDS.

Which teammates, he wouldn’t say. But he was perfectly comfortable sharing what that moment was like.

Harper said, “They just kind of told me, and looked at me and said, ‘What are you going to do?’”

He didn’t tell us what he said back to them. He didn’t need to. We all saw the answer.

Harper hit two home runs, the first rocking Citizens Bank Park to the footers. The second created what could become one of the most iconic images in the history of Philadelphia sports:

pic.twitter.com/IhqnSmLr0Q

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 11, 2023

“Yeah, I stared right at him,” Harper confirmed, granting the moment legendary status.

Harper could have played it off as him looking out to the bullpen, or the camera just catching him at the right time. But, no. He didn’t. He owned it. Not only that, he relished in it.

“It’s a super competitive game that we play,” Harper said. “I enjoy commentary and things. I listen to WIP (radio) and you hear a lot of stuff on there as well and I just enjoy it. It’s part of the reason why we play this game and there’s nothing like it. Everybody’s competitive that we play against. I really enjoy those moments and the opportunity to play the game and have those moments.”

And did Arcia’s comments motivate him?

“I mean, any time anybody says something, right,” Harper said. “That’s what it’s all about.”

Harper hit two of the Phillies’ six home runs (tying the 2015 Chicago Cubs for most in a single playoff game) and he teamed up with Nick Castellanos, who also hit a pair of homers Wednesday, to become just the fourth pair of teammates to hit two homers in a single playoff game. The Phillies moved to within one win of another berth in the National League Championship Series, something they can lock up with a win Thursday at Citizens Bank Park.

Clutch. pic.twitter.com/LTXGCQSFw3

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 12, 2023

The other duos were Chris Taylor and A.J. Pollock of the 2021 L.A. Dodgers, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Wil Myers of the 2020 Padres and a couple guys named Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig of the 1932 Yankees.

Like those last two guys, who are already enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, Harper has a flair for the dramatic when the spotlight shines the brightest.

He now hold the National League record for most career home runs in the NLDS with 10. He continues to come up clutch time and again when the Phillies need him the most. He welcomes these moments. He cherishes the opportunity for them. Yes, he’s a special talent. Yes, he’s a fierce competitor. But, it’s far more than that for Harper.

See, he’s able to embrace these high leverage moments and produce during them because he doesn’t feel pressure.

He plays in the most sports-mad city on the planet. He has the weight of a $330 million contract on his shoulders. He has expectations to lead the Phillies to a championship. None of that weighs on him, because really, doing what he does for a living, in his mind, is pretty easy.

“When I went to JUCO early and had everybody in the world relying on (me) to be the NO. 1 pick – that was hard,” Harper said. “(Being) 16-years-old and trying to be the number one pick knowing that if you’re not, you’re a failure – that’s pressure. Trying to make all the money you can for your family so you can get them out of that area and set them up for life – that’s pressure.

“This is all cake, man. This is so much fun. It’s not pressure. …In those moments, all the pressure is gone.”

Hitting two home runs in a playoff game at the highest level is cake for Bryce Harper. Let that sink in.

Atta-boy, Harper pic.twitter.com/mcThfdrC3s

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 11, 2023

Not only does he have cake in those moments, but he gets to eat it too, especially when those moments occur here in Philadelphia, at Citizens Bank Park.

“It’s the fans man, there’s nothing like it,” Harper said. “I mean, we come out of that tunnel and they’re ready to go and I just laugh and smile. It’s so much fun.”

But then Harper got a little emotional talking about his bond with this city and the Phillies fans.

“It’s pandering, right? Everyone talks about it and says they think I do or whatever,” he said. “I love this place. I flat out love this place. There’s nothing like coming into the Bank and playing in front of these fans. They’re blue collar. Mentally tough. They fight every single day. I get chills, man. I get so fired up. I love this place.

“I signed here for a reason – to do everything I could to bring back a trophy to this town, to Mr. Middleton. To this organization. I get chills thinking about it because that’s what this is all about. … Garrett Stubbs said it best, man. If you don’t like it, then you can get out because we don’t want you. We want to be able to come in each night and play our game and have (the fans) with us every step of the way.”

They’re with you, Bryce. They’re with you with every stare. Every magical October moment. And they especially want to be with you for nine more wins, because then your legend will become immortal.

9 MORE, TOPPER pic.twitter.com/dA50VuwbAs

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 12, 2023

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