Records And Biggest Contract In MLB

Bryce Aron Max Harper is an American professional baseball right fielder and designated hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is someone who is highly notified of his masterstroke as an athlete.

Harper started his MLB journey with the Washington National in 2012 and played for the franchise for five long seasons.

Bryce started playing baseball in high school, took it to college, and later established himself as a professional in this field.

He has always headed further with the baggage of achievement in his professional career.

The 7-time All-Star was named the NL Rookie of the Year in 2012 and All-MLB First Team in 2021.

We shall talk about all his phases of life, from the beginning to the low points in his career.

You will get to explore Bryce Harper’s life briefly, but first, let’s start with some quick basic facts about this not-so-petite MLB player, Bryce Harper.

Quick Facts

Early Life, Family & Education

Bryce was born on October 16, 1992, to his parents, Ron Harper and Sheri Harper, in Las Vegas, Nevada. His father, Ron, was an ironworker.

Alongside his parents, Bryce grew up with his older brother, Bryan Harper, a former baseball pitcher who played for the Washington Nationals for eight long seasons.

As a kid, the former Nationals’ pitcher played basketball and football. The two brothers share a strong bond.

When Bryan was placed outside his hometown for games, they always shared a telephone conversation. The former pitcher used to throw left-handed, which inspired his younger brother, Bryce.

His father is no more in this world, but he passed on the most valuable things, his principles and work ethics, to his children.

High School & College Career Summed Up

As for education, Bryce Harper schooled at Las Vegas High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. He played along with Joey Gallo and Kris Bryant in Las Vegas.

Bryce obtained his General Education Development, a group of four subjects that one has to pass to prove his high school level skills, in October 2009, making him eligible for the MLB Draft in 2010.

The designated hitter was also featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, where he was compared with Lebron James in 2009.

Moving further in life, Bryce attended the College of Southern Nevada and joined his older brother as one of the Southern Nevada Coyotes’, where he served as a catcher.

With his record-breaking 31 home runs, Bryce was awarded the 2010 SWAC Player of the Year.

On July 2, 2010, he was ejected from a National Junior College World Series game for disputing a called third strike.

His suspension resulted in the team’s elimination from the tournament. However, he received the 2010 Golden Spikes Award, awarded to the top collegiate players in the nation.

Professional Career

Draft And Minor Leagues

The Washington Nationals drafted Bryce with the first overall pick of the 2010 MLB Draft.

Despite predominantly playing as a catcher, he was offered the outfielder position to improve his overall skills and make his MLB debut earlier.

They agreed on a five-year contract worth $9.9 million, including eight-semester college fees and a $6.25 million signing bonus.

Bryce was very fond of Mickey Mantle, who wore No. 7 jersey, and he decided to wear #34 as three plus four equals to seven.

The right fielder participated in the Arizona Fall League Hagerstown Suns and won the 2010 AFL Championship.

Meanwhile, he started using contact lenses to recover poor vision after meeting an optometrist, Dr. Keith Smithson.

Furthermore, Bryce represented the United States in the 2011 All-Star Futures Game.

Harper sustained a hamstring injury on August 18, 2011, while running from second to third on an extra-base hit.

After being out for seven days, he started his 2012 season with the Syracuse Chiefs of the Class AAA International League.

Washington Nationals

Bryce got a chance to play for the major league on April 27, 2012, and just the day after, he played against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

At 19, he hit his first career Major League home run, becoming the youngest player to homer in the major leagues since Adrian Beltre in 1998. He also received the National League Rookie of the Month in May.

The former Nationals’ player finished third behind David Freese and Michael Bourn in the All-Star Final Vote.

He continued his MLB journey with the Nationals and led his team to the 2012 NLDS but lost the game 7-9 against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Harper became the youngest Major League player to score two home runs in the first season.

The MLB player also planned to participate in the 2014 Major League Baseball Japan All-Star Series but later withdrew.

Philadelphia Phillies

Bryce signed a 13-year/$330 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies on March 2, 2019, which was the biggest deal until Mike Trout‘s 12-year/$430 million deal with Los Angeles Angels.

Harper expressed his happiness in joining the Philadelphia club in a press conference saying, “It’s good to feel wanted by the Phillies and the fans of Philadelphia. I can’t wait to be a part of the Phillies for a long period.”

In the 2021 season, Bryce batted .309/.429/.615 with 35 home runs and 84 RBIs in 141 games and won his second career National League MVP award. Likewise, he also led the National League with 78 extra-base hits.

With the Phillies, he made his first World Series in 2022 against the Houston Astros. On November 23, 2022, he was announced to miss a portion of the 2023 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Career Stats

Awards & Achievements

• 2x NL Most Valuable Player (2015, 2021)
• 7x MLB All-Star Selection (2012-2018, 2022)
• National League Rookie of the Year (2012)
• 2x NL Hank Aaron Award (2015, 2021)
• Silver Slugger Award (2015, 2021)
• ESPN MLB Person of the Year (2015)
• All-Star Futures Game selection (2011)
• Golden Spikes Award (2010)
• SWAC Player of the Year (2010)
• Baseball America High School Player of the Year (2009)

Personal Life & Wife

Bryce is a married man and owes a fine responsibility towards his wonderful wife Kayla Varner, son Krew Aron Harper and his daughter Brooklyn Elizabeth Harper.

Kayla is his high school friend-turned-girlfriend, and they got engaged in 2014 and exchanged marital vows in December 2016 at the San Diego California Temple.

He is a family guy with a generous soul who took paternity leave when his wife was pregnant in 2019.

There are no rumors of their separation or any extra-marital affairs, which proves they are happy being with each other.

Besides these, Bryce is a huge fan of the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL. He also kept the Knights logo on his bat at the Stanley Cup Finals in 2018.

The WND Foundation and the District of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation have designed a baseball field and named it Bryce Harper Field in Takoma.

Also, Bryce is affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also called the Mormon Church, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Aligning with Mormon missionaries, he completely refrained from alcohol in 2014 and strictly believes that consuming alcohol is unnecessary for people aged 18-26.

Net Worth & Salary

Harper has come with great luck and dedication that he puts into every gameplay. We cannot deny that he lives a healthy and wealthy life with his beautiful, small family.

Bryce lives up to the saying, “Hard work pays off,” and keeps adding wealth with god’s grace.

With the Nationals, he garnered $52,250,000 in eight seasons and has earned $71,629,630 with the Phillies so far. He is estimated to take home $26 million each year until 2028 if he stays with the Phillies.

Besides, he also attracts different extravagant endorsements and sponsorships.

According to online sources, Bryce Harper has an accumulated net worth of around $100 million as of 2023.

Not much information about his assets is available, but as mentioned in Wikipedia, Bryce owns a personalized Mercedes-Benz CL and a Los Angeles house worth $2.7 million.

Endorsement & Media Appearances

Talking about his media appearances, Bryce was featured in an episode of ESPN E:60 episode. He also posed naked in ESPN’s The Magazine 2015 Body Issue and appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Being a worldwide celebrated athlete, you attract overwhelming attention and hence different endorsement deals. The MLB player signed a 10-year extension with apparel company Under Armour in 2016.

Harper has also endorsed Musclepharm (a nutritional supplement company that fosters on healthy life), Blind Barber (a barbershop chain and hair product), and Gatorade.

Social Media Presence

Bryce is a well-acquainted personality when it comes to social media presence. Harper keeps his fanbase entertained with his posts and updates on his life.

He is available on Instagram under the handle @bryceharper3 and on Twitter @bryceharper3.

Twitter: 1m followers

Instagram: 1.7m followers

Popularity

Playing in the MLB and landing the largest contract, Harper has continuously managed to be in the limelight.

The above graph gives brief information about the popularity of Bryce Harper based on Googles searches in the United States over a year.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

Where does Bryce Harper currently live?

Bryce Harper currently lives in Philadelphia, United States, with his family.

What headband does Bryce Harper wear?

Bryce Harper is mainly seen wearing Junk Brands headbands.

What baseball glove does Bryce Harper use?

Bryce Harper is mostly seen wearing Rawlings Opticore PROBH34WG baseball gloves.

What position does Bryce Harper play?

Bryce Harper plays in the right fielder position at the professional level.

How many errors did Bryce Harper have in the 2021 season?

According to reports, Bryce Harper had only one mistake during the 2021 season.

How many times has Bryce Harper been ejected in his career?

According to reports, Bryce Harper has been ejected 14 times in his professional baseball career.

Who makes Bryce Harper cleats?

What jersey number does Bryce Harper wear?

Bryce wears jersey number #3 for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB).

What haircut does Bryce Harper have?

Bryce Harper is very famous for his different hairstyles and haircuts. He keeps changing it according to his mood. As of now, he is usually seen with an undercut haircut.

Are Bruce Harper and Bryce Harper the same?

No, they are not the same people. It's just that their initial name sounds similar. So people get confused, Bruce with Bryce. Bruce is a former NFL player for New York Jets.

Did Bryce Harper and Genesis Cabrera get into a fight?

No, Bryce Harper and Genesis Cabrera didn't get into a fight. However, Harper was hit in the face by a pitch from Cardinals reliever Cabrera in the top of the sixth inning at Busch Stadium in April 2021.

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