Phillies: Bryce Harper crushes homer on son Krew’s birthday
By Matt Rappa
Phillies star outfielder Bryce Harper made his son Krew’s 1st birthday extra special with a mammoth two-run home run
After resting during Friday’s series opener against the Atlanta Braves, it appears the time off paid dividends for Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper.
With one out in the first inning and Rhys Hoskins on first base after a walk, Harper drove the first pitch he saw to deep right-center field opposite Braves lefty starter Robbie Erlin. Harper’s blast came on the same day as the first birthday of he and his wife Kayla’s son, Krew; it increased the six-time All-Star’s season home run and RBI total to seven and 18, respectively, through 22 games, which ranks among the best in the National League.
RELATED | Phillies: Bryce Harper on track for career-best season
The home run not only improved the Las Vegas native’s already impressive numbers amid the shortened 2020 season, but it also extended his already lengthy on-base streak. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Matt Breen, Harper is the first player in franchise history to begin two seasons with an on-base streak of 20-plus games.
https://twitter.com/Phillies/status/1297311957436043265
According to Statcast, Harper’s home run traveled 470 feet with an exit velocity of 109.6 miles per hour. It was the second-longest home run in Major League Baseball season, as well as for Harper in the Statcast era (since 2015) — just three feet shy of his May 4, 2018, home run opposite recently traded Phillies pitcher Nick Pivetta.
Also, the first-inning blast on Saturday was the second-longest home run in Truist Park history and the second-longest home run by a Phillies player tracked by Statcast since former third baseman Maikel Franco hit a 471-foot homer on July 10, 2016.
Very few dads could hit 470-foot homers on a child’s birthday but @bryceharper3 did it on Krew’s first. Pretty special moment. Asked him about after a tough #Phillies loss. Love his response. pic.twitter.com/35KkZd38EO
— Rob Maaddi (@RobMaaddi) August 23, 2020
Bryce and Kayla both shared an Incredibles-themed birthday celebration for their son on Instagram earlier in the day. After the game, Bryce posted a picture of him wearing an Incredibles-themed cleats in the loss to the Braves.
Harper now has 42 home runs in red pinstripes through 179 games; the Phillies outfielder continues to make his case for a second-career Most Valuable Player Award in 2020.