Bryce Harper opens up about embracing Philadelphia's culture after $330,000,000 Phillies move

Star player Bryce Harper is set to begin his seventh season with the Philadelphia Phillies. Since making his MLB debut in 2012 with the Washington Nationals, Harper has been a dominant force, finishing his rookie season as an All-Star and winning the NL Rookie of the Year award.

He had a strong tenure with the Nationals before signing a massive 13-year, $330 million contract with the Phillies. Now, as he crosses the halfway point of his contract and enters his seventh year in Philadelphia, Harper shared his thoughts on his journey so far.

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In an interview with MLB Network, Harper said:

“It's crazy. We're already kind of halfway through, right? But it's been great. I mean, just the dynamic coming in every day and filling the relationships and just talking to everybody and being around. It's still the best. I mean, I love it every day. It's a great sport we play, and I enjoy wearing that Philly beat.”

When asked about why he has embraced the Phillies’ culture so well, Harper replied:

“Yeah, this is where I am. This is where my family's at. This fan base loves us as a team. I love the city, man. It's a lot of fun to be able to, like I said, go in the bank every single day and do what I dream to do, just playing this game that I love. They've been so good to me. and my family and there's nothing like it.”

Last season, Bryce Harper had a stellar year with the Phillies, posting a .285 batting average in 145 games, hitting 30 home runs and driving in 87 RBIs.

Bryce Harper opens up about embracing Philadelphia sports culture and supporting the city’s other teams

Bryce Harper is a big supporter of Philadelphia’s sports teams, including the Eagles (NFL), Sixers (NBA) and Flyers (NHL), and he has shown his support for them multiple times.

The 32-year-old also listens to the city’s sports radio, discussing which, he said (via ESPN):

"People that call into the radio, they love it. They love us. I love listening to it. I think it's hilarious. I enjoy listening about all the other sports in town. I love cheering on the Eagles. I love cheering on the Sixers and Flyers."

"We all know what it's like to play here and so we all cheer for each other and understand each other. When the city rallies around a team and all the players, it's just so much fun to see."

To show his commitment to the Philadelphia Phillies, Bryce Harper didn't include an opt-out clause in the massive contract he signed in 2019, showing his loyalty to the team and the city.

About the author

Chirag Dhariya is a baseball reporter at Sportskeeda with over two years of experience in content writing and SEO. While it may not seem directly related to his current profession, Chirag believes his graduation in Commerce instilled in him the research and analytical skills essential for this job.

A New York Mets fan, Chirag was introduced to baseball and its popularity in Japan, thanks to anime. He considers Sonny Gray securing his 100th career win in the same place where he got his first win - the Oakland Coliseum, as one of his favorite moments from recent MLB history.

Chirag's writing process involves meticulous research and multiple proofreads to ensure his articles provide the readers with accurate facts packaged in a simple yet engaging manner.

He is also a Google Analytics enthusiast and a huge anime fan who likes to keep himself updated with the current trends in the genre.

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Edited by Bhargav