Career Timeline of Bryce Harper: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Bryce Harper made an impact.

Bryce Harper is a professional baseball outfielder and first baseman currently playing for the Philadelphia Phillies in MLB. Prior to joining the Phillies, he played for the Washington Nationals. He is a prominent figure in Major League Baseball.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1900: Top-5 hitting season

Harper's 2015 season was a top-5 hitting season (since 1900) for all players under the age of 23

1964: Teenager Stealing Home Plate

In a game on May 6, Harper stole home plate, becoming the first teenager to steal home plate since 1964.

1969: Joe Lahoud's achievement

On May 6, 2015, Bryce Harper became the youngest player since Joe Lahoud in 1969 to hit three home runs in a single game

1998: Adrian Beltré Homers

On May 14, Harper hit his first career Major League home run, and was the youngest player to homer in the major leagues since Adrián Beltré did in 1998.

2008: Plays for United States U-18 Baseball Team

In 2008, Bryce Harper played for the United States U-18 baseball team before being drafted by the Nationals.

2009: Wins Gold at Pan American U-18 Baseball Championship

In 2009, Bryce Harper represented the United States at the Pan American U-18 Baseball Championship in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, where the team won gold.

2009: Phillies win pennant

In 2009, the Phillies won its first pennant.

June 2010: Eligible for MLB Draft

In June 2010, Bryce Harper became eligible for the Major League Baseball (MLB) draft.

August 26, 2010: Introduction by Nationals

On August 26, 2010, Bryce Harper was introduced by the Washington Nationals, revealing he chose No. 34 because "I always loved Mickey Mantle, three and four equals seven."

2010: Phillies Advance to NLCS

After the 2022 NLDS, the Phillies advanced to the NLCS for the first time since 2010.

2010: Drafted by Washington Nationals

In 2010, The Washington Nationals selected Bryce Harper with the first overall pick of the Major League Baseball draft.

2010: NJCAA World Series

In the Western district finals of the 2010 NJCAA World Series, Harper went 6-for-7 with five RBIs and hit for the cycle.

2010: AFL Championship

On November 20, 2010, Bryce Harper and the Scottsdale Scorpions won the Arizona Fall League (AFL) Championship.

2011: All-Star Futures Game Selection

In 2011, Bryce Harper was selected to represent the United States in the All-Star Futures Game.

2011: Phillies playoff appearance

In 2011, was the Phillies' last playoff appearance before 2022.

2011: Consecutive Home Runs by Nationals

On July 27, Harper hit one of four consecutive home runs by Nationals hitters, a feat accomplished in Major League Baseball for the first time since the 2011 season.

April 27, 2012: Promotion to Major Leagues

On April 27, 2012, The Nationals promoted Bryce Harper to the major leagues after Ryan Zimmerman was placed on the disabled list.

April 28, 2012: MLB Debut

On April 28, 2012, Bryce Harper made his Major League Baseball debut with the Washington Nationals at 19 years old.

2012: Season with Syracuse Chiefs

Bryce Harper began the 2012 season with the Syracuse Chiefs of the Triple-A International League.

2012: Rookie of the Year

In 2012, Bryce Harper won the National League Rookie of the Year Award.

2012: Postseason Home Run

In Game 5 of the 2012 NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals, Bryce Harper hit his first postseason home run.

2013: Home Run Derby

In 2013, Bryce Harper participated in the Home Run Derby, advancing to the final round and becoming the second-youngest player to participate in the Home Run Derby, and the youngest to ever make it to the final round. He also passed Ken Griffey Jr. for most home runs by a player younger than 21.

2013: Two Home Runs on Opening Day

On Opening Day of the 2013 season, Bryce Harper hit two home runs against the Miami Marlins, becoming the youngest major league player to achieve this.

2014: Withdrawal from Japan All-Star Series

After the 2014 season, Bryce Harper planned to travel to Japan to participate in the 2014 Major League Baseball Japan All-Star Series, but later withdrew.

2014: Home Runs off Strickland

In the 2014 National League Division Series, Harper hit two home runs off of Hunter Strickland, which Harper believed led to Strickland seeking revenge in a later game.

April 18, 2015: Longest Home Run of Career

On April 18, 2015, Bryce Harper hit the longest home run of his MLB career, a 461-foot drive against the Philadelphia Phillies.

2015: Award-Winning Season

Bryce Harper received all 30 first place votes for the 2015 National League Most Valuable Player and won the Hank Aaron Award.

2015: Named NL Most Valuable Player

Bryce Harper was named the National League Most Valuable Player for 2015.

April 14, 2016: First Career Grand Slam

On April 14, 2016, Bryce Harper hit his first career grand slam for his 100th career home run in a game against the Atlanta Braves.

2016: Appears on The Tonight Show and Signs with Under Armour

In 2016, Bryce Harper appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to play Catch Phrase and signed a 10-year extension with Under Armour.

2016: Harper's Season Statistics

In 2016, Harper finished with a .243 batting average, 24 home runs, and 86 RBI in 147 games. He also had 108 walks, with 20 being intentional, leading MLB.

2016: Nationals' Season Outcome

In 2016, the Nationals finished the season with a 95–67 record, securing the NL East division title but ultimately losing to the Dodgers in the National League Division Series (NLDS).

2016: Harper Discusses Faith and Role Model Status

In a 2016 interview, Bryce Harper talked about his faith as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his desire to be a role model both on and off the field.

April 3, 2017: Harper's Opening Day Performance

On April 3, 2017, Harper hit a solo home run, struck out, and walked against the Miami Marlins. This marked his fifth career home run in a season opener, making him the player with the most home runs before the age of 25.

2017: All-Star Game Appearance

In 2017, Harper was the top overall vote-getter for the National League to start in the MLB All-Star Game. He went 1-for-1 with a walk and made a diving catch. He also wore cleats to honor José Fernández.

2017: Walk-off Home Run

In the 2017 season, Harper hit a walk-off home run against the Philadelphia Phillies for the second time, after hitting one earlier on April 16.

2017: Harper's Postseason Series

The 2017 season was Harper's last postseason series until 2022.

2018: Signed with the Phillies

During the 2018-19 offseason, Bryce Harper signed a 13-year, $330 million contract with the Phillies.

2018: Arbitration Agreement

In 2018, Harper and the Nationals avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $21.625-million contract.

2018: Harper's 2018 Season

In 2018, Harper was named a starting outfielder for the MLB All-Star Game and won the homerun derby. He finished the season with a career-high 130 walks, 34 home runs, a .249 batting average, and 100 RBIs. He became a free agent after the season.

2018: Bryce Harper Field Dedicated

In 2018, the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation and the District of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation renovated a baseball field in the Takoma neighborhood of Washington, D.C., and named it Bryce Harper Field.

March 2, 2019: Harper Signs with Phillies

On March 2, 2019, Harper signed a 13-year, $330 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, setting the record for the largest MLB contract at the time. He chose to wear No. 3 with the club.

March 30, 2019: Harper's First Hit as a Phillie

On March 30, 2019, Harper's first hit as a member of the Phillies was a 465-foot home run off Jesse Biddle of the Atlanta Braves.

August 15, 2019: Walk-off Grand Slam

On August 15, 2019, Harper hit a walk-off grand slam against the Chicago Cubs.

September 3, 2019: Harper Reaches 100 RBIs

On September 3, 2019, Harper recorded his 100th RBI of the season, marking the second consecutive year he reached this milestone and becoming the first Phillies player since Ryan Howard in 2011 to achieve 100 or more RBIs in a season.

2019: Appears on The Tonight Show and Cover Athlete for MLB The Show 19

In 2019, Bryce Harper appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to play the video game MLB The Show 19, which featured him as the cover athlete.

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2021: Won Second NL MVP Award

In 2021, Bryce Harper won his second NL MVP award with the Phillies.

August 12, 2022: Harper to Join US National Baseball Team

On August 12, 2022, Bryce Harper announced his intention to join the United States national baseball team for the 2023 World Baseball Classic, alongside Phillies teammates J. T. Realmuto and Trea Turner.

October 8, 2022: Home Run in NL Wild Card Series

On October 8, 2022, Harper hit a home run in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series against St. Louis, contributing to an eventual 2–0 victory.

October 23, 2022: NLCS Game 5 Home Run and MVP

On October 23, 2022, during Game 5 of the National League Championship Series, Harper hit a go-ahead two-run home run, sending the Phillies to the 2022 World Series. He was voted the 2022 NLCS MVP.

2022: Harper's 2022 Regular Season

In the 2022 regular season, Harper batted .286/.364/.514 with 18 home runs and 65 RBIs, playing primarily as a designated hitter (90 games) and also in right field (8 games). He had the ninth-highest salary in baseball at $27.5 million.

2023: Unable to Play in World Baseball Classic

In 2023, Harper was unable to participate in the World Baseball Classic due to rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery.

2023: Baseball returns as a competition sport in the Olympics

In 2023, it was announced that baseball would return as a competition sport in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

July 13, 2024: Harper homers against all MLB teams

On July 13, 2024, Harper reached the milestone of homering against every team in Major League Baseball, hitting a solo home run on a pitch by Austin Adams of the Oakland Athletics.

May 16, 2025: Harper Records 1,000th RBI

On May 16, 2025, Bryce Harper achieved his 1,000th RBI in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, which the Phillies won 8-4. He also became the 14th MLB player to reach 1,000 RBIs, 1,000 runs, and 1,000 walks before the age of 33.

2028: Hope to participate in 2028 Summer Olympics

In 2023, Harper expressed his hope that MLB players would be allowed to participate in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles after baseball was reinstated as a competition sport.