MIAMI -- Bryce Harper lifted a finger toward the sky after giving Philadelphia a two-run, first-inning lead over the Marlins on Saturday afternoon at loanDepot park. The Statcast-projected 401-foot homer ticked momentum in the Phillies’ favor early, and they never let it go, clinching the road series with a 4-2 win.
It has been an emotional 24 hours for Harper, who learned of his former manager Davey Johnson’s passing the day prior.
Johnson was the first big league manager to write Harper’s name into a lineup card when the 19-year-old phenom made his MLB debut with Washington on April 28, 2012.
Harper, who played one year of college ball as a 17-year-old after taking his GED as a high school junior to reclassify, was taken first overall by Washington after a record-setting year at the College of Southern Nevada.
One of the most highly-touted prospects of all-time, Harper credited Johnson for streamlining his ascension to The Show.
“Davey Johnson gave me the opportunity to be a big leaguer,” Harper said postgame. “He was one of the better people I’ve ever been around. Just a lot of fun to play for him. He loved young players, and [was] one of the funnier managers I’ve ever played for.
“Just a baseball guy. Definitely gonna be missed in the baseball circle, and just an all-around great human.”
“Obviously, Davey was a great player and great manager,” manager Rob Thomson said pregame. “Harp was saying he really loved him, because Davey loved young guys.
“Harp felt like he got to the big leagues a little bit earlier than he would have with some other manager. ... He really loved him.”
Harper’s heartfelt homer was good for half of his team’s run production, while Harrison Bader and Bryson Stott each knocked in a run in the fourth. The output helped Philadelphia (83-59) keep pressure on the Mets, who are seven games behind the Phillies after falling later on Saturday.
On the mound, Jesús Luzardo was unflappable against his former team, collecting his 13th win of the season and his first against Miami since being traded to Philadelphia in December 2024.
Luzardo earned his 17th quality start of the season and sixth in his past seven outings, allowing two earned runs on five hits and four walks, and striking out eight (six of which came via his sweeper).
The game carried extra significance for Luzardo -- not only because it came against his former squad -- but because it came against a good friend in 2022 Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara.
“Sandy’s good,” Harper said. “He’s been good for a long time. Obviously, he’s got really good stuff, and it’s been a tough year for him, coming back from the Tommy John [surgery]. But he’s still got 98 in the tank with that slider and that changeup.”
Harper saw four different offerings from Alcantara before getting a 98 mph fastball on the fifth pitch of his first at-bat, ripping it over the wall.
“He’s one of the best in baseball,” Harper said. “So it’s always fun going up against him, and I’m just happy we were able to get ahead and get those runs on the board.”
At 32, Harper is far removed from the enchantment of his teenage years. His name is a mainstay in MLB circles, while few current players are more likely to enter Cooperstown than he.
But the eight-time All-Star and two-time MVP has not forgotten the lessons he learned while playing under Johnson.
“Just have fun,” Harper said. “He enjoyed it every day. He enjoyed going in there and being around the guys. … His door was always open for players to come in and talk to him, and he was always teaching.”
Now, Harper’s in a teaching role of his own, with much of his tutelage coming by example.
After missing most of June with right wrist inflammation, Harper slashed .291/.378/.628 in the month of July, clobbering six homers in the process. In August, he posted the fifth-most Outs Above Average (three) among all National League infielders.
Harper is slashing .283/.344/.591 (.935 OPS) with 16 doubles, 15 homers and 33 RBIs across his last 50 games. He’s reached base safely in 98 of his 114 games, and became the youngest active Major Leaguer to hit his 350th career home run on July 23.
With just about every individual award already under his belt, he’s yet to attain one trophy in his career: The Commisioner’s Trophy.
But if the power-swinging lefty continues hitting like he has been, Philly will be in prime position to make a run at the title come October.