Philadelphia Phillies first baseman and two-time NL MVP Bryce Harper will continue his legacy and leave his footprint on the game of baseball as we head into 2025. Harper has amassed multiple All-Stars, Silver Slugger Awards and personal milestones, all while taking on the new first base role in recent seasons — a role forced on him after suffering Tommy John surgery, per Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia. There's no doubt he's earned the respect across the league as to his capability of taking the sport by storm.
Much like last season, 2025 will be a pivotal year for the Phillies in their quest for eternal glory. Harper has been the leader and has been the engine behind the winning culture in Philadelphia. He's one of the best overall hitters in the sport and has churned out MVP numbers year after year and even at age 32, he doesn't appear to be slowing down.
Surprisingly, in a recent list of potential MVP favorites in 2025, Harper's name seemingly escaped the ballot.
Phillies' Bryce Harper left off list of preseason MVP favorites
It's never too early to drum up MVP front-runners for the upcoming MLB season, but apparently, it's early enough to count Harper out, according to MLB.com, which listed the favorites for the most valuable player in both the National and American Leagues. The biggest surprise is Harper being left off the list.
Harper has already added two MVPs to his trophy case to his Hall of Fame-hopeful career and has yet to show signs of slowing down. Here's how MLB.com laid out the list for the NL award:
1. Juan Soto, OF, Mets
2. Shohei Ohtani, SP/DH, Dodgers
3. Kyle Tucker, OF, Cubs
4. Francisco Lindor, SS, Mets
5. Elly De La Cruz, SS, Reds
The National League has officially turned into a powerhouse. Juan Soto found his way back into the NL after a year with the Yankees, and Shohei Ohtani will look to take the mound once again. Kyle Tucker was traded from the Astros to the Cubs in a blockbuster deal and also has MVP-caliber talent.
Although the stiff competition appears to be getting tighter for the MVP, Harper is no slouch and very much deserves to be in the running. Harper has also finished in the top 12 in MVP voting five times. In 2024, he hit .285 with 30 home runs, 87 RBI and a .898 OPS. He was the starting NL first baseman for the All-Star Game, earned the Silver Slugger Award and finished sixth in NL MVP voting.
The current challengers have a case, but leaving Harper off the board seems improper if Harper can have a fully healthy 2025. Remember, he was considered a favorite at the midway point of 2024. Harper is known for his aura on game day, and the big moments seem to find him, but on top of everything he does right, he puts up the numbers that make him a genuine superstar every single season.