The Philadelphia Phillies had a profound need to upgrade their outfield heading into the MLB trade deadline. They addressed it by trading for Harrison Bader from the Minnesota Twins. He brings solid defense and raises the floor of the outfield's production at the plate, especially as a right-handed bat. However, the problem lies with Bader's recent strikeout percentages.
Bader wasn't the big splash Phillies fans were hoping for at the deadline, but he is an upgrade from what the Phillies have gotten from the outfield through 100-plus games so far. Even with the qualities he does bring, there are still some red flags when it comes to Bader's pitching splits.
Is Harrison Bader's swing-and-miss against left-handers something Phillies should be worried about?
Bader is having one of his better offensive seasons at the plate. Through 101 games, he has a .253 batting average, a .767 OPS, 13 home runs and 41 RBIs. According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the Phillies have some major outfield decisions to make (subscription required). Decisions could also be made based on Bader's strikeout rate against left- and right-handed pitchers.
Over the first eight years of his big-league career, Bader has a 21.3 percent strikeout rate against lefties compared to 24.8 percent against right-handers. Reverse splits can happen over a player's career, but 2025 has been even more drastic for Bader.
Against right-handers this season, he's batting .265, posting a .789 OPS, with a strikeout rate of just 22.4 percent. Against lefties, however, he's batting .224 with a .729 OPS and a startling strikeout rate of 35.8 percent.
It is puzzling for a player of Bader's caliber to have as much as swing-and-miss as he does against lefties. Against righties, Bader is playing along his career numbers, but for some reason this season, he has turned into more of a "three true outcome" player when he faces southpaws. It's something to overcome, and even though the Phillies have gotten the fifth-worst outfield production with 1.1 fWAR standpoint, they still rank 13th with a 22.2 percent strikeout rate.
Of Bader's 13 home runs this season, five of them are against lefties in just 89 at-bats, while working a 10.1 walk percentage. His eight home runs against right-handers have come in 196 at-bats, with only an 8.1 walk percentage.
Bader isn't a perfect player, just like any of the other options available at the trade deadline, but it will be something to monitor as the season winds down and the roster becomes more competitive. Hopefully, working alongside Kevin Long can help Bader straighten out some of the swing-and-miss down the stretch. With prospect Justin Crawford waiting in the wings (subscription required), per Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer, all Phillies fans ask is that they have the best outfield as they march toward the postseason.