It's still too early for Philadelphia Phillies fans to worry about Bryce Harper.
While the Philadelphia Phillies did come away with a 3-2 win over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday, things have certainly not been pretty in the early stages of the 2026 campaign for Bryce Harper and Co.
The Phillies are 2-3 on the year and have one of the worst offenses in baseball at the moment, owning a .609 OPS. They've scored 17 runs, which ranks 23rd.
Outside of Brandon Marsh, who is hitting a crisp .400 through five games, Philadelphia's offense as a whole has been anemic.
Of course, Harper has immediately been placed under the microscope, as he has gone just 2-for-20 thus far.
Considering that team president stated during the offseason that Harper was no longer elite, an assertion that deeply perturbed Harper, it's only natural for fans to zero in on the $330 million man even more.
That's especially considering that Harper is 33 years old and absolutely has exhibited signs of decline in recent seasons.
But the fact of the matter is that it is far too early to worry about the two-time NL MVP.
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper. Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images.Seriously: can we get two weeks into the regular season before we even consider sounding alarm bells? Should we also write off AL MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh, too? Heck, Aaron Judge is batting .150. Guess he's done, right?
I understand the trepidation surrounding Harper. He is an older player, and his .844 OPS in 2025 was his lowest mark since 2016. But we need to give the veteran some type to actually get into the swing of things before starting his obituary.
It's far from just Harper, either. The Phillies' entire lineup has been mostly M.I.A.
Trea Turner is hitting .182 with a .445 OPS. Kyle Schwarber has homered twice, but he is only 3-for-19 as a whole. J.T. Realmuto comes in at .083.
Yes, there is something to be said for Philadelphia relying a whole lot on aging players this season, which was actually a pretty major topic of discussion throughout the winter. That was one of the reasons why Phillies fans were so aggravated with the overall lack of activity. Especially after consecutive NLDS exits.
But that's another subject. As for Harper himself? Let's wait a little bit longer before we really start to become concerned.
Now, if we are two months in and Harper is still scuffling? Then perhaps there's something there. But for now? Just give the legend some time.
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