History of Bryce Harper in Timeline

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

1900: Top-5 Hitting Season

In 2015, Bryce Harper's hitting season was in the top-5 hitting seasons since 1900 for players under the age of 23.

1964: Teenager stealing home plate

In 1964, a teenager stole home plate, being the last teenager to achieve this feat until Bryce Harper did it in 2012.

1969: Youngest player with three home runs in a game

In 1969, Joe Lahoud was the youngest player to accomplish three home runs in a single game before Bryce Harper repeated the feat in 2015.

October 16, 1992: Bryce Harper's Birth

On October 16, 1992, Bryce Aron Max Harper was born. He later became a professional baseball player.

Others born on this day/year

1997: Runs scored in April

In 1997, Larry Walker scored 29 runs in the month of April.

1998: Youngest player to homer

In 1998, Adrian Beltre was the youngest player to homer in the major leagues before Bryce Harper matched the achievement in 2012.

2006: Youngest Player in AFL

In 2006, Mets prospect Fernando Martinez became the youngest player in the history of the Arizona Fall League, just two days younger than when Bryce Harper appeared in the league.

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.

May 2009: Sports Illustrated Cover

In May 2009, Bryce Harper was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, drawing comparisons to LeBron James and being called his sport's "Chosen One".

October 2009: Earned GED

In October 2009, during his junior year, Bryce Harper earned his GED. This reclassification made him eligible earlier for the Major League Baseball draft in June 2010.

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: College of Southern Nevada Enrollment

For the 2010 college season, Bryce Harper enrolled at the College of Southern Nevada where he played as a catcher, broke the school's home run record, and was named the 2010 SWAC Player of the Year.

2010: NJCAA World Series Performance

In 2010 during the Western district finals of the NJCAA World Series, Harper had a standout performance including going 6-for-7 with five RBIs and hitting for the cycle, followed by another game with four home runs.

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: Ejection from NJCAA World Series Game

In 2010, Bryce Harper was ejected from a National Junior College World Series game for disputing a called third strike, resulting in a two-game suspension that ended his amateur career. He also won the 2010 Golden Spikes Award.

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.

April 2011: Vision Correction and Improved Performance

In April 2011, after a slow start in the minor leagues, Bryce Harper visited an optometrist and received contact lenses, leading to a significant improvement in his performance, including hitting .480 in his first 20 games.

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: Ryan Howard's 100 RBIs

In 2011, Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies hit for 100 RBIs or more in a 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.

April 25, 2014: Thumb Injury

On April 25, 2014, Bryce Harper injured his left thumb sliding into third base during a game against the San Diego Padres.

2014: Withdrawal from Japan All-Star Series

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

2014: Engagement to Kayla Varner

In 2014, Bryce Harper got engaged to Kayla Varner.

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.

January 2015: Postponed Wedding

In January 2015, Bryce Harper's wedding to Kayla Varner, which had been planned for this month, did not occur.

April 18, 2015: Longest Home Run

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

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: Featured in ESPN's The Magazine Body Issue

In 2015, Bryce Harper was featured in a nonrevealing naked format in ESPN's The Magazine 2015 Body Issue.

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.

July 2016: Reconciliation and Re-engagement

In July 2016, Kayla Varner announced that she and Bryce Harper had reconciled and were engaged again.

September 2016: Death of José Fernández

In September 2016, Miami Marlins ace José Fernández, a division rival pitcher who had held Harper to a career .211 batting average against him, was killed in a boat crash.

December 2016: Marriage to Kayla Varner

In December 2016, Bryce Harper married Kayla Varner at the San Diego California Temple.

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: Golden Knights Stanley Cup Run

In 2018, Bryce Harper showed his support for the Vegas Golden Knights during their run to the Stanley Cup Finals by putting the Golden Knights' logo on his bat.

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.

August 22, 2019: Birth of First Child

On August 22, 2019, Bryce Harper and his wife Kayla welcomed their first child, a son, in Las Vegas while Harper was on paternity leave.

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.

March 2020: MLB Season Suspension and Proposed Season

In March 2020, the MLB season was suspended indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bryce Harper suggested a potential 135-game season that would last from July through November.

November 2020: Birth of Second Child

In November 2020, Bryce Harper and his wife Kayla welcomed their second child, a daughter.

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: Relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee during the 2023/2024 offseason.

Bryce Harper resides in Knoxville, Tennessee, relocating there during the 2023/2024 offseason.

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.

April 2024: Birth of Third Child

In April 2024, Bryce Harper and his wife Kayla welcomed their third child, a daughter.

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.

2024: Relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee during the 2023/2024 offseason.

Bryce Harper resides in Knoxville, Tennessee, relocating there during the 2023/2024 offseason.

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.