Aug 14, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first base Bryce Harper (3) during a game against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports Bill Streicher
Bryce Harper hit a laser off of Tampa Bay Rays reliever Garrett Cleavinger in the bottom of the ninth inning Monday night. Off the bat, it appeared that it had a chance to be his first home run since Aug. 9, exactly a month to the day. But it instead hit off the top of the wall. By the time Harper realized it wasn't going out and started sprinting to first base, it was too late. He was stuck at first base.
Harper hit the ball 108.6 mph off the bat, and right fielder Josh Lowe fired a seed into second base. Even still, Rob Thomson had his answer ready before he was finished being asked post game whether Harper should have been on second base.
"Yeah," Thomson said.
"And before I could get to him, he came up to me and apologized," Thomson added.
Topper looks disappointed at Bryce Harper for not running this hit into a double
pic.twitter.com/GAo3xxzCN9
It's one thing to pick your spots on sprinting full speed on grounders. Harper is just over a month from his 32nd birthday, and spent time on the injured list earlier this season with a left hamstring strain. The Phillies need him healthy once the postseason rolls around.
However, a tied game in the bottom of the ninth inning isn't a situation where he should ease up.
Fortunately for the Phillies, Harper was still able to score on a walk-off single by Kody Clemens later in the inning. But it's not difficult to envision a scenario where not being on second base after his hit could have cost the Phillies the game-winning run in the ninth and sent the game to extras.
Rob Thomson talking to Bryce Harper postgame.
Thoughts on Bryce not running out that ball tonight?
📹:@NBCSPhilly pic.twitter.com/vDYvyK2dJV
Still, there's something to be said for Harper making sure to find Thomson to immediately apologize.
"I think it shows the other guys that they need to hustle," Thomson said. "He's accountable, and he admits to his mistakes. That's all you can ask for, really."
In the end, it's probably not a play that anyone will still be thinking about in 24 hours. But even if Harper hits a ball into the second deck Tuesday night, you can bet he'll be halfway to second base before the ball lands.
