Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper turned 31 on Monday.
His Phillies played against the Arizona Diamondbacks on his birthday, the first game of what is shaping up to be a thrilling National League Championship Series.
Harper showed, once again, why he is one of the most feared playoff performers of our time, hitting a solo home run and going 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs, and two RBI.
The Phillies won, 5-3, and took Game 1 convincingly.
Harper is now one of just four players in MLB history to hit a postseason home run on their birthday.
“Only MLB players to hit a postseason HR on their birthday: Willie Aikens, 1980 WS (26), Evan Longoria, 2013 ALDS (28), Kolten Wong, 2015 NLDS (25), Bryce Harper, 2023 NLCS (31),” Codify Baseball tweeted.
Only MLB players to hit a postseason HR on their birthday:
Willie Aikens, 1980 WS (26)
Evan Longoria, 2013 ALDS (28)
Kolten Wong, 2015 NLDS (25)
Bryce Harper, 2023 NLCS (31) https://t.co/BXERpfR2NK— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) October 17, 2023
Harper had quite a birthday game, actually.
He homered in the first inning to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead after Kyle Schwarber had done the same.
Then, he singled to right in the bottom of the third and walked in the fifth inning.
Overall, he went 2-for-3 with two runs, two RBI, and a base on balls.
For the postseason as a whole, he has reached a whole new level of performance, hitting .409/.567/.955 with four home runs, nine runs scored, seven RBI, eight walks, five strikeouts, and a 1.522 OPS.
The two intentional walks he has are the perfect proof of the effect he has on opposing pitchers.
They fear him, and with good reason.
The Phillies and D-Backs will take the field again on Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, looking to win Game 2.
Harper will be there, ready to help his team win.
NEXT: Phillies Give Bryce Harper A Special Shoutout Today
