Phillies: Bryce Harper appears in new ‘Ready to Play’ ad
By Matt Rappa
Phillies OF Bryce Harper appears in a new commercial ahead of Opening Day
One week from Friday marks the start of the 60-game sprint of the Philadelphia Phillies 2020 season.
Among the players expected to don red pinstripes for the highly anticipated home game against the Miami Marlins includes star outfielder Bryce Harper, who in the process will kick off his second of his 13-season contract.
Expectations are high for the six-time All-Star this season, with experts predicting he will come away with his second career Most Valuable Player Award. If his latest commercial cameo has any indication, Harper is “ready to play.”
The outfielder appears in a new Gatorade commercial released this week, alongside several other professional athletes that include:
- WNBA: Washington Mystics forward Elena Delle Donne
- NFL: Atlanta Falcons running back Todd Gurley
- Track and field: Olympic athlete Sydney McLaughlin
- NBA: New Orleans Pelicans rookie phenom Zion Williamson
The theme of the commercial is that Harper and the four other athletes are “ready to play anything,” as professional sports continue to ramp up and return to play amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Harper begins the commercial taking a swing and saying, “It’s time to play some baseball.”
Then, Williamson is shown in what appears to be red pinstripes, replying to Harper: “Baseball? I can do baseball.” After, Gurley is shown with a glove in a fielding a stance, followed by Delle Donne tossing a basketball in a pitcher’s throwing motion. Harper is later seen tossing a basketball up in the air while trying to take a swing at it with his bat.
“In the last few months, athletes have been excited about getting back out there and playing anything,” Gatorade says. “If you’re Ready to Play, Zion Williamson, Sydney McLaughlin, Bryce Harper, Todd Gurley and Elena Delle Donne are right there with you! After all, at their core, they’re athletes, ready to play and compete, no matter what the sport.”
The Phillies are set to play exhibition games this weekend. Then, Opening Day will not be too long after. It’s time to play.