Have we already seen the best of Bryce Harper during Phillies' World Series window?

The Philadelphia Phillies have prided themselves on being top contenders since they signed the face of the franchise Bryce Harper. The former outfielder, now first baseman, was the sign of a new movement in Phillies baseball when they signed him in 2019 to a 13-year, $330 million deal.

He's given the organization some great years, but the Phillies and Harper find themselves in the back half of the contract. Even the best of stars eventually drop in production, which is where Harper finds himself now.

Harper just turned 33, and with a down year in 2025, questions are circulating about whether he can continue his production at a high level. The Phillies exited another postseason early, leaving Harper still without a ring to his name. He's still a star in Philadelphia, but will the signature moments of “The Showman” be fewer and farther between going forward?

Questions about Bryce Harper's ability to be elite again have surfaced

Harper may be approaching his mid-30s with 14 years of MLB experience under his belt, but he, if anyone, has the capability of contending for the NL MVP year after year, regardless of age. During the end-of-season press conference, Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that he knows Harper is still motivated to play like his elite self, per Tim Kelly of On Pattison.

“I think he’s highly motivated to have the best season of his career next year,” Thomson said, adding that he expects Harper to attack this offseason with motivation after he experienced a down year.

Through 132 games, Harper sported a .261 batting average, .844 OPS, 27 home runs and 75 RBIs. For his career, he is averaging a .280 batting average, .905 OPS, 33 home runs and 95 RBIs.

Harper is a competitor and leaves it all on the field. He's the driving force of the offense, the player the lineup revolves around. The Phillies are great when he's doing well and feed off that. The thought of the Phillies being a diminished version of himself offensively is alarming, but Harper is still producing.

The thought even has president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski questioning Harper's ability to reach his peak again.

“He’s still a quality player,” Dombrowski said about Harper’s down year at the year-end presser, per MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. “He’s still an All-Star-caliber player. He didn’t have an elite season like he has had in the past. And I guess we only find out if he becomes elite or he continues to be good.”

It's not the most comforting answer coming from Dombrowski. There's also doubt creeping in all over the place when it comes to the 2026 Phillies. A lot of the coaching staff is returning, but the lineup as a whole remains an unfinished product, with big moves still expected in the offseason.

Bryce Harper still has what it takes to be an elite player for the Phillies

The production is still there for Harper, as he's only one year removed from 2024, when he sported an .898 OPS, won the Silver Slugger Award at first base and was named an All-Star. He also finished sixth in NL MVP voting.

According to Statcast, Harper's has also held his bat speed as well as his expected stats. Even with a drop from 2023, Harper's bat speed was still 74.2 mph this year, which was in the 81st percentile. That was even better than his 74 mph that also ranked him in the 81st percentile in 2024.

Harper may have finished with a .261 batting average, but his .280 xBA was in the 83rd percentile and even better than last year (.267 xBA). His .512 xSLG was also still an elite 89th percentile and better than last year's .474 SLG. His .379 xwOBA in the 91st percentile was better than last year's .357 mark.

Harper's agent Scott Boras is also of the same belief and recently weighed in on his client's ability to play at an elite level.

The Phillies want to keep their World Series window open for as long as possible. The belief that Harper is still a productive bat in the middle of the lineup gives hope for the future of the franchise.

Harper has given the city of Philadelphia Bedlam at the Bank, the Orlando Arcia stare-down, and many other snapshot moments. It's still his team. A down year isn't a pattern and Harper, Thomson, Dombrowski and everyone else will be looking for him to dominate the league again in 2026.