What the Phillies’ lineup looks like with Bryce Harper
The left-handed hitting star will help balance a lineup that leans right.
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The Phillies lineup, already improved with the offseason additions of Jean Segura and J.T. Realmuto, looks even more formidable with Bryce Harper in the middle of it.
As a left-handed hitter, the free agent -- who signed with the Phillies in a blockbuster deal worth $330 million over 13 years with no opt-outs -- will bring balance to a batting order that leans to the right. He batted in the No. 3 spot for most of his career (456 games) with the Nationals, but also frequently batted second (178 games) and fourth (146). Depending on where manager Gabe Kapler wants to slot him, the Phillies’ opening-day lineup could look like this:
2B Cesar Hernandez (S)
SS Jean Segura (R)
RF Bryce Harper (L)
1B Rhys Hoskins (R)
C J.T. Realmuto (R)
LF Andrew McCutchen (R)
CF Odubel Herrera (L)
3B Maikel Franco (R)
Pitcher
Read more analysis on what Bryce Harper would bring to the lineup from Scott Lauber.
What $330 Million Is Worth
Here’s a look at how much money Bryce Harper could make over the next 13 seasons, on average, based on his performance so far in his major-league career:
Per pitch seen
Per plate appearance
Per game
$11,132
$44,906
$191,685
Roughly equal to the annual salary of a minimum-wage worker in Pennsylvania who works four days a week ($12,064)
More than the median household income in Philadelphia ($39,759)
More than annual salary of a newly elected member of Congress ($174,000)
SOURCES: baseball-reference.com; U.S. Census Bureau; Congressional Research Service
JOHN DUCHNESKIE / Staff Artist
What $330 Million Is Worth
Here’s a look at how much money Bryce Harper could make over the next
13 seasons, on average, based on his performance so far in his major-league career:
Per pitch seen
$11,132
Roughly equal to the annual salary of a minimum-wage worker in Pennsylvania who works four days a week ($12,064)
Per plate appearance
$44,906
More than the median household income in Philadelphia ($39,759)
Per game
$191,685
More than annual salary of a newly elected member of Congress ($174,000)
SOURCES: baseball-reference.com; U.S. Census Bureau; Congressional Research Service
JOHN DUCHNESKIE / Staff Artist
At Citizens Bank Park, Harper has a .268 career batting average. In 208 plate appearances he’s had 48 hits, 14 of them home runs -- the most he has at any visiting ballpark.
More Bryce Harper coverage
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» SCOTT LAUBER: Bryce Harper signing turns Phillies into legitimate World Series contenders
» BOB BROOKOVER: Bryce Harper’s historic contract shouldn’t overshadow the historic player
» SOCIAL MEDIA ROUNDUP: Fans celebrate Bryce Harper becoming a ‘Phillie for life’
» READ MORE: What the Phillies’ lineup looks like with Bryce Harper
» MARCUS HAYES: Will Bryce Harper’s personality and arrogance fit in on the Phillies? That’s a clown question, bro.
» READ MORE: That fight with Papelbon, and everything else you need to know about Bryce Harper