Former Phillies GM pitches bold lineup change for Bryce Harper that we'd love to see

The Philadelphia Phillies are anticipated to have a solid lineup again in 2026, particularly following the re-signing of Kyle Schwarber this winter. Phillies manager Rob Thomson moved Schwarber out of the leadoff spot and put Trea Turner there last year. Could another change to the top of the batting order involving Bryce Harper benefit the club?

On The Phillies Show podcast with his fellow co-hosts, Todd Zolecki and Jim Salisbury, Ruben Amaro Jr. recently discussed a potential change for the team's batting order that could be in the Phillies' interest.

Ruben Amaro Jr. suggests Bryce Harper should hit leadoff for the Phillies

With Harper looking to regain his elite status this season, Amaro Jr. proposed that the two-time MVP should hit in the Phillies' leadoff spot.

"Some of the elite hitters in the game are hitting in the one-hole now …" Amaro said. "Other than when you flip the lineup from nine to one, you go left-right all the way down. You go left-right with this lineup. Harper left, Turner right, Schwarber left, Bohm right, Marsh left, García right, Stott left, Realmuto right, and Crawford left … that is as complete a lineup as you can possibly get."

Harper hit leadoff more often with the Washington Nationals than he has with the Phillies. He has frequently expressed an openness to doing whatever it takes to win, but admitted to being more comfortable hitting lower in the batting order, such as second, third, or fourth. Thomson isn't much of a fan of batting Harper first in Philadelphia's lineup, either.

Last year in spring training, Harper spoke about moving up the lineup. He said he'd do anything to win but also expressed a reluctance to lead off.

"I mean, I haven't been talked to yet," Harper said, per On Pattison's Tim Kelly. "Obviously, I'm a three-hole hitter and I have been. But whenever they tell me to hit two or four, I've done that in the past as you guys know. I wanna win, so I don't care what it takes."

Although he also added, "I'll take the extra at-bats, but I don't want to hit leadoff."

Amaro also addressed Harper's possible hesitance to moving to the one-hole.

"If I was managing this team right now," Amaro said. "I would be having discussions with Bryce Harper and trying to get him to buy in. It's great for him because he's going to get more and more at-bats, great protection from Turner, who was one of the MVPs from the National League last year. Then he's going to get a ton of opportunities to really put up the kind of numbers he wants to put up and be an elite player."

The math makes sense to have Bryce Harper leading off

It seems like common sense that the more often a batter comes to the plate, the more often he can influence the game. The math works out, too, and it seems undeniable that Harper should be the Phillies' leadoff hitter.

According to analyst Ryan M. Speader, there are massive benefits to a team hitting its best batter in the leadoff position. During the 2024 season, the first hitter had a greater chance than anyone else in the lineup of tying or taking the lead during the game.

"The leadoff spot creates more opportunities to influence the outcome, whether early in the game, late in the game, or in high-leverage moments," Speader concludes. "By placing your best player at the top of the lineup, you're ensuring they receive the maximum number of chances to make a difference — especially when they can change the course of the game."

It would be interesting to see Harper hit leadoff more often, as it would present an intriguing change to the Phillies' batting order. Having proper protection in the lineup for him has been a concern throughout recent seasons. It'd be less of a worry for Thomson if the first baseman hit first, with both Turner and Schwarber behind him.

However, it doesn't appear likely to happen because neither Thomson nor Harper has been keen on the move in the past.