When Phillies' Bryce Harper controversially defeated ex-Cubs star Kyle Schwarber and won the 2018 Home Run Derby

Bryce Harper got entangled in a controversy in 2018 at the Home Run Derby, where he and his dad were accused of cheating to win the event. Harper managed to defeat former Chicago Cubs left fielder and now-teammate Kyle Schwarber in the final round. However, many pointed out that he didn't follow the rules as he won the 2018 Home Run Derby.

The rule that was allegedly broken was that the pitcher has to wait for the last ball to touch the ground before another one can be thrown. Bryce Harper was being pitched by his father, Ron Harper, who didn't wait much in between his pitches and was quick with his outing.

So, as a result, Harper scored 18, which was a tie with Schwarber, but ended up winning due to the 30-second bonus time. So, the accusation is that if Ron Harper hadn't thrown his pitches this quickly, there was a chance that Kyle Schwarber would have been the winner that night.

Since then, many pundits have given their verdict on the situation. Grant Brisbee of SBNation said that he doesn't think Bryce Harper cheated, as he pointed out that Ron Harper followed the umpire's cue to throw the pitch. Dan Steinberg of The Washington Post was also in favor of denying Harper's cheating accusations.

Even the commissioner Rob Manfred talked about how Bryce Harper's dad listened to the umpires, and he expressed his complete faith in the umpire's decision.

Bryce Harper is close to catching up with Shohei Ohtani in the NL MVP chase

The Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper has emerged as a legitimate contender in the National League MVP race during the first half of the season. His .299 batting average, backed up by 22 home runs already surpasses his 2023 total (21) in fewer games.

He has positioned himself as a National League MVP candidate. Harper's on-base percentage, currently hovering near the league's top, highlights his offensive strength on the field.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani stands as the current frontrunner, boasting great numbers that statistically outpace Harper's in most categories. Harper needs to stay healthy and get back to his pre-injury form if he wants to catch up with the Dodgers' designated hitter.

Harper has an advantage of 11 years of experience as an outfielder, which provides him with the upper hand on defense over Ohtani. So, if Harper keeps his consistency and produces good numbers he could very well surpass Shohei Ohtani in the MVP race.