Philadelphia Phillies superstar Bryce Harper has expressed his “hurt” and “disappointment” at comments made by the club’s president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski, who questioned the player’s ability to return to his elite level after an inconsistent campaign.
During the end-of-season press conference, Dombrowski said Harper “is still an All-Star caliber player,” but acknowledged that he did not have a season of the level he was accustomed to and wondered if he would return to his dominant form.
“I guess we’ll only know if he makes it to the elite or if he continues to be good,” said the executive.
Harper: “I’ve given everything for Philadelphia from the beginning”
The 33-year-old outfielder, who played 132 games with 27 home runs, 75 RBIs and a .261 average, admitted that his statistics dropped, although he explained that a wrist injury affected his performance. “It’s disappointing to hear that my contribution is being questioned. It hurts me a lot because I love this city,” he told The Athletic.
Harper remembered that since he arrived in Philadelphia, he has been committed to the organization and the fans.
“I’ve given everything for this team from day one. I heard it in Washington and I hated it. I don’t want to go through that again,” he said in reference to rumors of possible trade negotiations.
Dombrowski tries to calm the waters
Amid the controversy, Dombrowski stepped in on the Foul Territory podcast to clarify his words.“This took on a life of its own. There is no intention to change Harper. We love him and we believe he will continue to have great years,” said the manager, trying to cool the situation.
Even so, Harper noted that no one from the organization has reached out to him since the comments were made, although he made it clear where his loyalty lies: “Philadelphia is my home. I committed to stay here for the rest of my career”.
Harper’s commitment intact
Harper, a two-time National League Most Valuable Player and four-time Silver Slugger Award winner, has guided the Phillies to the postseason in each of the last four campaigns, including a World Series in 2022.
“From changing positions to playing injured, I always show total commitment to my team,” said the slugger. “I just want a little more trust from the organization.”
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