Ronald Acuña’s catch to rob Bryce Harper was the best of the season so far
Sure, recency bias always plays a role, but Acuña tracked down Harper’s almost surefire double to the gap in a matter of seconds, seemingly teleporting from one spot in the outfield to the next. Making up that much ground so quickly is a rare feat, let alone by a player who was recently on the injured list.
After a rough 2019 season — his first in Philadelphia after signing a 13-year, $330 million contract — Harper has bounced back in a big way, even if it’s a smaller sample size. Harper entered the day hitting .302 with 7 home runs and 20 RBI. Harper isn’t used to not getting his way, at least not this year, and Acuña handed him a deflating moment when the Phillies could’ve extended their lead.
https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1299816238764490754
Bryce Harper slammed his helmet after Acuña’s diving play
The scoreline would hold, as the Phillies won 4-1, so Harper’s well-intentioned frustration was for nought. The Phillies remain just two games back of the Braves in the NL East, making their choices before the MLB trade deadline all the more important. Philadelphia already acquired Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree from the Boston Red Sox to improve their ailing bullpen, but if the Phillies want to overtake Atlanta, they’ll likely need even more help, perhaps in the rotation.
Harper is evidence that the Phillies are willing to spend big, and that’ll have to be the case once again come Monday.