Bryce Harper signed a profitable free agent contract in 2019 to affix the Philadelphia Phillies, however the slugger mentioned Sunday that he wished his time with the membership had come a lot earlier.
Responding to the overwhelming assist slumping teammate Trea Turner has acquired from the notoriously robust Philly crowd, a fired-up Harper informed 94 WIP, “I don’t want to play anywhere else; I wish I started my career here.”
With Turner enduring a down yr and mired in a career-long homerless streak, Phillies followers greeted the shortstop with standing ovations for 2 straight house tilts in opposition to the Kansas City Royals.
And, on Saturday, Turner lastly broke by means of, smashing a three-run shot in a 9-6 Phillies win. After the cathartic homer, the Philly trustworthy willed Turner out of the dugout for a curtain name.
Turner has felt the love, which extends to Harper, who could not assist however reward the followers for getting behind the previous All-Star regardless of his struggles.
“It’s incredible. I absolutely freaking love it,” Harper mentioned. “Just an incredible moment for him. The fans having his back and our team’s back. They got us. I’m so thankful to be here.”
Philadelphia followers have all the time carried round an unflattering repute, and, to an extent, some put on it as a badge of honor. However, whereas rowdy, foul-mouthed and arduous on their groups, they’re largely misunderstood in Harper’s thoughts.
“Everybody talks about it, right? ‘Oh, it’s one of the hardest places to play; free agents don’t want to come here ’cause it’s hard,'” Harper mentioned. “But they just don’t understand. They don’t get it.”
Since signing with the Phillies, Harper has seemingly understood the Philly fanbase like few gamers earlier than him have. Pandering or not, Harper has earned their adoration, and his most up-to-date feedback ought to solely additional his good standing with the identical individuals who threw snowballs at Santa Claus.
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