For the first time in his 14 MLB seasons, Bryce Harper accomplished a feat he never did previously in the Philadelphia Phillies' 13-0 beatdown of the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday.
Harper had four extra-base hits in a single game — a home run and three doubles — as he went 4-for-6 with three runs scored and an RBI. It's his best performance since returning from a wrist injury that cost him 22 games last month. It was also Harper's first home run and RBI since June 3.
As The Athletic's Matt Gelb points out, Harper's heroics increased his OPS by 37 points to .819. What was even better was that all the hits went the opposite field, meaning the two-time National League MVP is starting to heat up.
"I'm really good," Harper told reporters after the game, including Gelb. "I mean, I really am. I don't want to put that out there, and everybody goes, 'Oh, what's he talking about?' But I know when I'm going well, I'm one of the best in baseball. I'm healthy. I'm strong. I feel great."
Before Wednesday's game, Harper was just 4-for-24 with no extra-base hits since returning June 30 from his wrist inflammation.
"Mentally, you have to be strong," Harper explained. "Obviously, you don't want to be where you are. I don't want to be where I am right now. That's the ups and downs of the season. But for me, just being confident in my ability going out there. Not trying to do too much. Understanding my swing is good. I'm healthy. I'm strong."
Harper is now hitting .259/.370/.449 with ten home runs and a 126 OPS+. He will be looking to continue his momentum when the Phillies begin a three-game series against the Padres in San Diego on Friday.
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