Bryce Harper, a Philadelphia Phillies superstar, was one of the most highly anticipated prospects in baseball when he was selected as the first overall pick in the 2010 MLB draft. From the moment he was drafted, greatness was expected of him.
Ken Griffey Jr. might be the only other baseball prospect with as much fame and potential as Harper. Over the course of his 13-year career, Harper has lived up to the hype. He debuted in the MLB in 2012 at just 19 years old, playing for the Washington Nationals until 2018 before joining the Phillies.
Now 33 years old, Harper’s career is on track for a potential Hall of Fame induction. As of 2025, he has 336 home runs, a .911 OPS, and a slash line of .281/.389/.522, along with a career bWAR of 51.1, positioning him to surpass several current Hall of Famers before retiring.
Although he has yet to win a World Series, Harper has earned two National League MVPs: one in 2015 with the Nationals and another in 2021 with the Phillies.
The all-time MVP leader is Barry Bonds, who won seven MVPs, including a streak of four consecutive from 2001 to 2004. Eleven players, including Philadelphia icon Mike Schmidt (1980, ’81, ’86), have three MVPs, which is the second-most in history.
Four Yankees—Joe DiMaggio (1939, ’41, ’47), Yogi Berra (1951, ’54, ’55), Mickey Mantle (1956, ’57, ’62), and Alex Rodriguez (2003, ’05, ’07)—also share this distinction. Bonds and Rodriguez are the only two players in this group not in the Hall of Fame due to their connection to performance-enhancing drugs.
Albert Pujols, who won three MVPs (2005, ’08, ’09), will become eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2028, and is widely expected to be inducted. Other legendary players with three MVPs include Stan Musial (1943, ’46, ’48) and Roy Campanella (1951, ’53, ’55).
Jimmie Foxx (1932, ’33, ’38) was the first player in history to claim three MVPs. Currently, only active players with three MVPs are Mike Trout (2014, ’16, ’19) and Shohei Ohtani (2021, ’23, ’24).
Ohtani, a generational talent comparable only to Babe Ruth when pitching, presents the biggest challenge to Harper reaching three MVPs. Ohtani, three years younger than Harper, will need to decline or miss time for Harper to have a shot at another MVP.
Even if Ohtani blocks Harper from joining the exclusive three-MVP club, Harper’s legacy remains undeniable. With his continued strong performance, Harper is on a clear path to Cooperstown, and voters will likely have no choice but to enshrine him.
Leave a Reply