Better get used to seeing Bryce Harper play first base for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Harper was a right fielder for the Washington Nationals and Phillies in the first 11.5 years of his MLB career. The two-time NL MVP showed everybody he could excel at first base in his 12th season in the majors.
Harper was no slouch in his first start as a Phillies first baseman. He fell into the photographer's pit while successfully trying to get the out in Philadelphia's 6-5 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Friday.
Fast forward two days later, Harper caught Guardians first baseman Josh Bell's grounder and beat him to the first base bag in the bottom of the fourth inning.
BRYCE HARPER, OH MY GOODNESS!! https://t.co/RsqXiCG8qt
— Barstool Philly (@BarstoolPhilly) July 23, 2023
Harper was at it again one inning later. He caught a 95 mph line drive off a Tyler Freeman swing and then tagged Steven Kwan to get credit for two outs.
All Bryce Harper has done is make several plays worthy of SportsCenter highlights in two games. It seems he has instinctive abilities at first base this early in his positional switch.
Article Continues BelowPhillies manager Rob Thomson planned to move Harper to first base and Kyle Schwarber to designated hitter after the MLB All-Star break.
Bryce Harper's hard work at first base has paid huge dividends
Harper also credited his newfound success in the infield to sheer hard work, per MLB.com's James Schapiro.
“We've put in a lot of work,” Harper said on Sunday. “Me and (infield coach Bobby Dickerson), every single day, just trying to play the best first base I can over there for the guys around me.”
“Anything I can do to help this team win any given night, wherever that may be on the field, I just try to play the best game possible,” Harper added. “That's why they got me here, and that's why I love being here.”
Bryce Harper is off to a rip-roaring start in his career as Phillies first baseman. It Harper plays this well for the next several years, he could join the likes of Ryan Howard and John Kruk as the best first basemen in Phillies franchise history.