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Bryce Harper has a future within the sales space, if he needs one.
The Phillies slugger, who’s getting nearer to returning to the group after breaking his thumb in June, joined Tom McCarthy and John Kruk on NBC Sports activities Philadelphia throughout Thursday’s win over the Washington Nationals. It was Harper’s first time sitting behind a microphone throughout a recreation, and he advised it won’t be his final.
“It’s been a blast,” Harper stated. “Perhaps I’ll be again earlier than I come again and play.”
Along with updating viewers on his standing — he hopes to return in September — Harper spent the sport chatting about all the pieces from his favourite participant to look at (Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner) to his love of the Phillies’ powder blue throwback uniforms. He additionally had nothing however reward for former Dodgers announcer Vin Scully, the broadcasting icon who died this week at age 94.
» READ MORE: Tonight’s Phillies game won’t be on NBC Sports Philadelphia
However he was particularly informative throughout recreation motion. When Rhys Hoskins blasted a solo house run within the backside of the primary inning off Paolo Espino to tie the sport, Harper praised the primary baseman’s strategy.
“What an excellent swing. He’s so good when he’s staying by way of the baseball,” Harper stated. “I imply, it’s such a powerful at-bat when he’s staying by way of the ball, going to proper middle. Then that simply unintentionally simply occurs.
“Espino’s a man that’s going to go on the market and attempt to get you off-balance, and get you away out of your swing,” Harper added. “Rhys simply stayed on that ball and hit it to left so effectively.”
Throughout the second inning, Harper touched on the latest success of Alec Bohm, who struggled earlier within the season and drew the ire of Phillies followers after tv cameras caught him saying “I [expletive] hate this place” after the group mocked him for making a routine play. Harper was completely happy to see Bohm within the dugout speaking issues over with new Phillies middle fielder Brandon Marsh.
“I really like that he’s sitting on the bench proper right here speaking about this proper now, as a result of he’s concerned within the recreation, he’s understanding the sport,” Harper stated of Bohm. “He needs to be so good, and I really like that mentality out of him, however he’s going to wrestle. It’s okay to wrestle. I believe you need to study that.”
Harper was particularly happy within the third inning, when Bohm blasted a three-run bomb to left discipline to offer the Phillies a 5-2 lead. It was Bohm’s eighth house run of the season, a brand new profession excessive, and he’s batting .417 over the previous 15 video games.
Harper additionally had some ideas on new Phillies pitcher Noah Syndergaard, who is thought for giving up stolen bases. In reality, Nationals third baseman Maikel Franco stole second base on Syndergaard within the second inning, his first stolen base of the season.
“He’s obtained that movement the place he comes up, and it’s simply the best way he pitches,” Harper stated. “That’s the place he will get his leverage and his size and stuff, and it’s possibly one thing that J.T. [Realmuto] can discuss to him about.”
If the response on social media is any indicator, Phillies followers have been thrilled with Harper’s first stint within the sales space. McCarthy, at all times playful on Twitter, highlighted one of many few complaints he acquired concerning the broadcast.
Even with Harper within the sales space, Kruk was nonetheless Kruk. He was known as out by McCarthy after utilizing some foul language within the second inning and couldn’t cease himself mocking Harper’s go well with.
“I’ve to respect the sales space, guys,” Harper stated.
“Yeah, sometime we’ll begin,” Kruk joked.
