How many MVPs does Phillies legend Jayson Werth think Bryce Harper will win?
In a terrific story by Jayson Stark in The Athletic (subscription required), Phillies World Series hero Jayson Werth laid out what Bryce Harper should expect coming to Philadelphia.
Werth took the opposite route of Harper, going from Philadelphia to Washington on a monster contract after the 2010 season after being relatively unknown early in his Phillies career.
Unlike Harper, Werth took a couple of years before he earned an All-Star appearance or MVP consideration, but the former Phillies right fielder knows a thing or two about the 134 mile trip on I-95 between Nationals Park and Citizens Bank Park.
With Harper locked in for 13 years with Philadelphia, Werth has set his expectations high for his former apprentice.
"I see eight to 10 All-Star appearances, two MVPs and two World Series … I’ve already said that if he goes to the Hall [of Fame], he’ll go to the Hall as a Phillie."
If Harper makes 10 more All-Star games, he’d tie his hero Mickey Mantle for the sixth-most All-Star selections of all-time with 16. Harper would also be just the third player in baseball history with three MVPs and at-least 16 All-Star selections, joining Mantle and Stan Musial.
Werth texted Harper to “get that statue built,” which sounds like him saying Harper will be immortalized in bronze at Citizens Bank Park forever. That would put Harper in the same category as Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Harry Kalas, Richie Ashburn, and Robin Roberts, all Hall of Famers.
Projecting Harper to win those kinds of accolades before he’s played a spring training game is borderline ridiculous, but they are achievable goals for a player just as talented as Harper is young.
Playing over 1,000 games at Citizens Bank Park, which is what Harper would have if he played 81 games over 13 years, only benefits his chances of collecting stupid stats to go with his stupid money.
Health obviously plays a big part in any players success, and while Harper has missed time with freak injuries he’s still put up historic numbers early in his career.
For now, let’s enjoy the ride with Harper and think about the Hall of Fame potential after he begins to live up to that record-shattering contract.