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 prominent American professional baseball player, currently a first baseman and right fielder for the Philadelphia Phillies in MLB. Previously, he played for the Washington Nationals. He is known for his hitting ability and on-field presence.

Sections (4)

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

2008: Plays for United States U-18 Baseball Team

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

2009: 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 Pennant

In 2009, Harper helped lead the Phillies to their first pennant since 2009, winning the NLCS MVP.

June 2010: MLB Draft Eligibility

In June 2010, Bryce Harper became eligible for the Major League Baseball (MLB) draft due to earning his GED in October 2009, which allowed him to reclassify and enter the draft earlier.

August 26, 2010: Nationals Signing

On August 26, 2010, Bryce Harper was introduced by the Nationals after agreeing to a five-year contract worth $9.9 million, including a $6.25 million signing bonus and eight semesters of college tuition. He chose to wear No. 34 in honor of Mickey Mantle.

2010: Arizona Fall League Championship

In 2010, Bryce Harper participated in the Arizona Fall League (AFL) as a member of the Scottsdale Scorpions taxi-squad and helped the team win the 2010 AFL Championship.

2010: Golden Spikes Award

In 2010, Bryce Harper won the Golden Spikes Award while attending the College of Southern Nevada, marking a significant achievement in his amateur career.

2010: Drafted by the Washington Nationals

In 2010, the Washington Nationals selected Bryce Harper as the first overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft, opting to draft him as an outfielder to extend his career and expedite his debut in MLB.

2010: NLCS for the first time since 2010

The Phillies advanced to the NLCS for the first time since 2010.

2011: All-Star Futures Game and Hamstring Injury

In 2011, Bryce Harper was selected for the All-Star Futures Game and was later promoted to the Harrisburg Senators. On August 18, 2011, he suffered a hamstring injury that ended his season.

2011: Phillies reached the playoffs

In August 2022, Bryce Harper was designated to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in Allentown, as a final step in his rehabilitation. The Phillies surged in the second half to reach the playoffs, their first appearance since 2011.

2011: Consecutive Home Runs

On July 27, 2017, Bryce Harper hit one of four consecutive home runs by Nationals hitters; this was the first time that the feat had been accomplished in Major League Baseball since the 2011 season.

April 27, 2012: Promotion to Major Leagues

On April 27, 2012, Bryce Harper was promoted to the major leagues by the Nationals 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 the age of 19.

2012: Triple-A Season Start

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

2012: First Postseason Home Run

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

2012: Rookie of the Year Award

In 2012, Harper won the National League Rookie of the Year Award, recognizing his outstanding performance in his debut season.

2013: Home Run Derby Participant

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 event. He also surpassed Ken Griffey Jr. for most home runs by a player younger than 21.

2013: Opening Day Home Runs and All-Star Selection

In 2013, on Opening Day, Bryce Harper hit two home runs against the Miami Marlins, becoming the youngest major league player to achieve this feat. He was also voted a starter for the MLB All-Star Game.

2014: Home Runs Against Strickland

In 2014, Bryce Harper hit two home runs off of Hunter Strickland in the National League Division Series, which the Giants won.

2015: Historic Hitting Season

In 2015, Bryce Harper had a historic hitting season, with his OPS+ being a top-5 hitting season for players under 23 since 1900. He led the majors in WAR and tied for the NL home run title with 42. Harper also became the youngest player with at least 40 home runs and 120 walks in one season.

2015: Awards and Honors

In 2015, Bryce Harper received all 30 first-place votes for the National League Most Valuable Player, becoming the youngest player to unanimously win the award. He also won the Hank Aaron Award and was named Baseball America's Player of the Year and ESPN's MLB Person of the Year.

2015: NL MVP Award

In 2015, Bryce Harper was named the National League Most Valuable Player, earning the award unanimously from the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

April 14, 2016: First Career Grand Slam

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

2016: Appearance on The Tonight Show & Under Armour deal

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, which was the largest endorsement deal in history for a baseball player at the time.

2016: Harper Discusses Faith

In 2016, Bryce Harper discussed his faith, stating he felt his purpose was to be a "walking Book of Mormon" and positively influence people through baseball.

2016: MLB Record for Walks and Suspension

In 2016, Bryce Harper tied the MLB record for most walks in a game on Mother's Day, May 8. He was later ejected for yelling at an umpire, resulting in a one-game suspension and an undisclosed fine, which he initially appealed before serving. In 147 games of 2016, Harper finished with a .243 batting average, 24 home runs, and 86 RBI.

2016: Nationals in the NLDS

In 2016, the Nationals finished the season with a 95–67 record, clinching the NL East division, but lost to the Dodgers in the 2016 NLDS.

April 3, 2017: Home Run on Opening Day

On April 3, 2017, Bryce Harper hit a solo home run, struck out, and walked against the Miami Marlins. It was his fifth career home run in a season opener, the most by a player younger than 25.

2017: All-Star Game Selection and Performance

In 2017, Bryce Harper was the top overall vote-getter for the National League to start in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game and received the most votes of any one player overall. As the starting right fielder for the National League All-Stars, he went 1-for-1 with a walk and made a diving catch to rob American League catcher Salvador Pérez of a base hit. He wore cleats for the All-Star Game in honor of José Fernández.

2017: Agreement to Avoid Arbitration and Walk-Off Home Run

In 2017, on May 13, Bryce Harper and the Nationals agreed to a one-year, $21.625-million contract to avoid arbitration in 2018. That night, he hit a walk-off home run versus the Philadelphia Phillies for the second time in the 2017 season, after doing it on April 16 as well.

2017: Postseason Series Since 2017

In Bryce Harper's first postseason series since 2017, he hit a home run in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series vs St. Louis in an eventual 2–0 victory.

2018: Arbitration Avoided

Bryce Harper and the Nationals avoided arbitration in 2018 by agreeing to a one-year, $21.625-million contract in 2017.

2018: All-Star Game Selection, Home Run Derby Win, and Free Agency

Bryce Harper began the 2018 season by drawing more walks than in previous years. He was named a starting outfielder for the 2018 MLB All-Star Game, where he also 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 2018 season.

2018: Phillies Contract

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

2018: Bryce Harper Field Dedication

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: Signing with the Phillies

On March 2, 2019, Bryce Harper signed a 13-year, $330 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, setting a record for the largest MLB contract at the time. He chose to wear No. 3 with the club. At his first press conference, Harper misspoke, saying, "We want to bring a title back to D.C."

March 30, 2019: First Hit as a Phillie

On March 30, 2019, Bryce 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, Bryce Harper hit a walk-off grand slam against the Chicago Cubs.

September 3, 2019: 100th RBI of the Season

On September 3, 2019, Bryce Harper batted in his 100th RBI of the season for the second consecutive year and was the first Philadelphia Phillies player since Ryan Howard in 2011 to hit for 100 RBIs or more in a season.

2019: Appearance on The Tonight Show and Cover Athlete

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

2021: Second Career National League MVP Award

In 2021, Bryce Harper batted .309/.429/.615 with 35 home runs and 84 RBIs in 141 games. His slugging percentage led the major leagues. He also led the National League with 78 extra-base hits and tied for the major league lead with 42 doubles. He won his second career National League MVP award.

2021: Second NL MVP Award

In 2021, Bryce Harper won his second National League MVP award while playing for the Philadelphia Phillies.

August 12, 2022: Announcement of World Baseball Classic Participation

On August 12, 2022, Bryce Harper announced that he would join the United States national baseball team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, joining fellow Phillies J. T. Realmuto and Trea Turner.

October 23, 2022: Game-Winning Home Run and NLCS MVP

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

November 23, 2022: Tommy John Surgery

On November 23, 2022, Bryce Harper underwent Tommy John surgery for his ligament tear and was expected to return as the Phillies' everyday designated hitter at around the All-Star break. He rejoined the team earlier than expected, in early May. In July, Harper made his first career start as a first baseman.

2022: 2022 Regular Season Stats

In the 2022 regular season, Bryce Harper batted .286/.364/.514 in 370 at bats, with 63 runs, 18 home runs, 65 RBIs, 7 sacrifice flies, and 9 intentional walks. He played 90 games at DH, and eight games in right field.

2023: Possible Olympics Participation

In 2023, Bryce Harper expressed his hope that MLB players would be allowed to participate in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

2023: Unable to play due to rehab

In 2023, Bryce Harper was unable to play due to rehabbing from Tommy John surgery in the offseason.

July 13, 2024: Homer Against Every MLB Team

On July 13, 2024, Bryce 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: 1,000th RBI

On May 16, 2025, Bryce Harper recorded his 1,000th RBI against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also became the fourteenth player in MLB history to reach 1,000 RBIs, 1,000 runs, and 1,000 walks before turning 33.