Chart Reveals How Bryce Harper Is Showing Off This Postseason

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Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after hitting a single against the Miami Marlins during the sixth inning at loanDepot park on September 13, 2022 in Miami, Florida.
(Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

 

Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper is just built different: he is in a tier of his own, especially in the 2022 postseason.

Ever since he came into the league, it was evident that he had a special talent to play baseball and hit a ball.

A decade and two MVP awards later, Harper is actually showing his immense talent and carrying the hopes of an entire fan base on his back.

Part of what makes him special is his ability to hit the ball to all fields: shifting against Harper is a waste of a manager’s time and an infield’s efforts.

Take a look at this graph:

13 of the 18 postseason hits he has so far have been from the middle of the field to the other way.

Just five have been pulled, including an incredibly loud home run.

 

A Truly Special Hitter Put The Team On His Back

Hitting the ball the other way is not easy to do against top velocity.

Harper not only does it on a daily basis, but he is also able to do it with authority.

The home run that flipped the score and the script in Game 5 of the NLCS against the San Diego Padres came against Robert Suarez, a hard-throwing righty, on a 99-mph fastball outside.

Most players would hit a weak popup or miss the pitch altogether, but not Harper.

He is capable of inflicting damage on any pitch at or near the strike zone, whether it is high, low, in or out.

That’s the mark of a great hitter right there.

In the 2022 playoffs, Harper is hitting .419/.444/.907 with a 1.351 OPS, five homers and six doubles in 11 games.

That’s insanely good.



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