History of Bryce Harper in Timeline
Bryce Harper is a prominent American professional baseball player currently playing as a first baseman and outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies in MLB. Before joining the Phillies, Harper played for the Washington Nationals, establishing himself as a notable figure in professional baseball.
1964: Teenager Steal Home Plate
In 1964, a teenager stole home plate for the first time since then.
October 16, 1992: Bryce Harper's Birth
On October 16, 1992, Bryce Aron Max Harper was born. He is now a professional baseball first baseman and outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies.
1997: Runs Scored in April Record
In 2017, Bryce Harper set the MLB record for runs scored in the month of April with 32, surpassing Larry Walker's previous record of 29 set in 1997.
2006: Fernando Martinez in AFL
In 2006, Mets prospect Fernando Martinez appeared in the Arizona Fall League (AFL).
2008: Plays for U.S. U-18 Team
In 2008, Bryce Harper played for the United States U-18 baseball team before being drafted by the Nationals.
May 2009: Sports Illustrated Cover Story
In May 2009, Bryce Harper was featured in a Sports Illustrated cover story, drawing comparisons to LeBron James.
October 2009: Earned GED
In October 2009, Bryce Harper earned his GED during his junior year of high school.
2009: Phillies Pennant Since 2009
Bryce Harper helped lead the Phillies to their first pennant since 2009.
2009: Pan American U-18 Championship Gold
In 2009, Bryce Harper represented the United States at the Pan American U-18 Baseball Championship, where the team won gold.
June 2010: MLB Draft Eligibility
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 after agreeing to a five-year contract.
2010: AFL Championship
In 2010, Bryce Harper and the Scottsdale Scorpions won the Arizona Fall League (AFL) Championship.
2010: Enrolled at College of Southern Nevada
In 2010, Bryce Harper enrolled at the College of Southern Nevada, where he played as a catcher.
2010: Golden Spikes Award
In 2010, Bryce Harper won the Golden Spikes Award while attending the College of Southern Nevada.
2010: Phillies Advance to NLCS
In 2022, Harper helped the Phillies advance to the NLCS for the first time since 2010.
April 2011: New Contact Lenses
In April 2011, Bryce Harper got contact lenses and significantly improved his batting performance in the minor leagues.
2011: Ryan Howard Last Phillie to 100 RBIs
In 2019, Bryce Harper recorded his 100th RBI of the season, marking his second consecutive year with at least 100 RBIs. He was the first Phillie since Ryan Howard in 2011 to accomplish this feat.
2011: Phillies Playoff Appearance
In August 2022, Harper was designated to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs during his rehab stint. In 2022, The Phillies surged in the second half to reach the playoffs, their first appearance since 2011.
April 27, 2012: MLB Promotion
On April 27, 2012, Bryce Harper was promoted to the major leagues by the Washington Nationals.
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: Syracuse Chiefs
Bryce Harper began the 2012 season with the Syracuse Chiefs of the Triple-A International League.
2012: First Postseason Home Run
In 2012, Bryce Harper hit his first postseason home run in Game 5 of the NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals.
2012: Rookie of the Year
In 2012, Bryce Harper won the National League Rookie of the Year Award.
2013: Home Run Derby Participation
In 2013, Bryce Harper participated in the Home Run Derby, finishing as the runner-up.
2013: Opening Day Home Runs
On Opening Day of the 2013 season, Bryce Harper hit two home runs against the Miami Marlins.
April 25, 2014: Thumb Injury
On April 25, 2014, Bryce Harper sustained a left thumb injury during a game against the San Diego Padres.
2014: Engagement
In 2014, Harper and his girlfriend Kayla Varner were engaged.
January 2015: Wedding Cancellation
In January 2015, Harper and Kayla Varner's wedding did not take place.
April 18, 2015: Longest Home Run
On April 18, 2015, Bryce Harper hit the longest home run of his MLB career, a 461-foot drive against the Philadelphia Phillies.
2015: Best Hitting Season
In 2015, Bryce Harper had a top-5 hitting season for players under 23 since 1900.
2015: Awards and Honors
In 2015, Bryce Harper received all 30 first place votes for the National League Most Valuable Player and won other awards.
2015: ESPN's The Magazine Body Issue
In 2015, Bryce Harper was featured naked in ESPN's The Magazine Body Issue.
2015: National League MVP Award
In 2015, Bryce Harper was named the National League Most Valuable Player by unanimous decision.
April 14, 2016: First Career Grand Slam
On April 14, 2016, Bryce Harper hit his first career grand slam, which also marked his 100th career home run.
July 2016: Re-Engagement
In July 2016, Kayla Varner announced the couple's reconciliation and re-engagement.
December 2016: Marriage
In December 2016, Harper and Kayla Varner were married at the San Diego California Temple.
2016: Season Statistics
In 2016, Bryce Harper finished the season with a .243 batting average, 24 home runs, and 86 RBI in 147 games. He also walked 108 times, with 20 intentional walks, leading MLB.
2016: Under Armour Endorsement Deal & The Tonight Show Appearance
In 2016, Harper signed a 10-year extension with Under Armour, which was the largest endorsement deal in history for a baseball player at the time and appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to play Catch Phrase.
2016: Nationals Lose in NLDS
In 2016, the Washington Nationals finished the season with a 95–67 record, clinching the NL East division, but lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series (NLDS).
2016: Religion
In a 2016 interview, Harper said that he "always thought that my Heavenly Father upstairs always just wanted me to be a walking Book of Mormon."
April 3, 2017: Opening Day Home Run
On April 3, 2017, Harper hit a solo home run, struck out, and walked against the Miami Marlins on Opening Day. This marked his fifth career home run in a season opener, the most by a player younger than 25.
2017: Arbitration Agreement and Walk-Off Home Run
In 2017, Harper and the Nationals avoided arbitration in 2018 by agreeing to a one-year, $21.625-million contract. Later that night in 2017, he also hit a walk-off home run versus the Philadelphia Phillies.
2017: Last Postseason Series Until 2022
In 2022, Harper played in his first postseason series since 2017.
2018: Arbitration Avoidance
In 2017, Harper and the Nationals avoided arbitration in 2018 by agreeing to a one-year, $21.625-million contract.
2018: Vegas Golden Knights Stanley Cup Run
In 2018, Bryce Harper showed support for the Vegas Golden Knights during their inaugural season and Stanley Cup Finals run by dropping the puck before a game and displaying the team's logo on his bat.
2018: All-Star Game and Home Run Derby
In 2018, Bryce Harper was named a starting outfielder for the MLB All-Star Game and won the Home Run Derby. He finished the 2018 season with a career-high 130 walks, 34 home runs, and 100 RBIs. He became a free agent after the season.
2018: Bryce Harper Field Inauguration
In 2018, the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation and the District of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation collaborated to renovate a baseball field in Washington, D.C.'s Takoma neighborhood, naming it Bryce Harper Field.
March 2, 2019: Signs with 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. Harper chose to wear No. 3 with the club.
March 30, 2019: 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.
August 22, 2019: Birth of First Child
On August 22, 2019, Harper's first child, a son, was born in Las Vegas.
September 3, 2019: 100th RBI of the Season
On September 3, 2019, Harper recorded his 100th RBI of the season, marking his second consecutive year with at least 100 RBIs. He was the first Phillie since Ryan Howard in 2011 to accomplish this feat.
2019: MLB The Show 19 on The Tonight Show
In 2019, Bryce Harper appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to play the video game MLB The Show 19, for which he was the cover athlete.
March 2020: MLB Season Suspension
In March 2020, the MLB season was suspended indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
November 2020: Birth of Second Child
In November 2020, Harper's second child, a daughter, was born.
2021: Second NL MVP Award
In 2021, Bryce Harper won his second NL MVP award while playing with the Phillies.
August 12, 2022: Joins US National Team for WBC
On August 12, 2022, Harper announced he would join the United States national baseball team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
October 23, 2022: NLCS Game-Winning Home Run and MVP
On October 23, 2022, Bryce Harper hit a go-ahead two-run home run in Game 5 of the NLCS, sending the Phillies to the World Series. He was voted the 2022 NLCS MVP.
November 23, 2022: Tommy John Surgery
On November 23, 2022, Harper underwent Tommy John surgery for a ligament tear, with an expected return as a designated hitter around the All-Star break.
2022: Regular Season Performance
During the 2022 regular season, Harper batted .286 with 18 home runs and 65 RBIs, playing primarily as a designated hitter. His salary was the ninth-highest in baseball at $27.5 million.
2023: Hope to Play in Olympics
In 2023, Harper expressed his hope that MLB players would be allowed to participate in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles after it was announced that baseball would return as a competition sport.
2023: Relocates to Knoxville
In the 2023/2024 offseason, Harper relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee.
April 2024: Birth of Third Child
In April 2024, the Harpers' third child, daughter Kamryn, was born.
July 13, 2024: Home Run Against Every MLB Team
On July 13, 2024, Harper homered against the Oakland Athletics, completing the feat of hitting a home run against every team in Major League Baseball.
2024: Relocates to Knoxville
In the 2023/2024 offseason, Harper relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee.
2028: Hope to Play in Olympics
In 2023, Harper expressed his hope that MLB players would be allowed to participate in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles after it was announced that baseball would return as a competition sport.
