Comparing Eddie Rosario’s 2021 NLCS to 2022 Bryce Harper

Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper had a great performance in the NLCS this postseason, but it’s got nothing on Eddie Rosario’s 2021 performance.

The Philadelphia Phillies are officially going to the World Series with a lot of credit due to slugger Bryce Harper. The perennial MVP candidate has had a postseason for the ages, but is it the best of all-time? Not so fast.

Atlanta Braves star Eddie Rosario performed even better during his 2021 NLCS run.

Harper earned the NLCS MVP Award for 2022, as he deserves. He played incredibly and essentially carried the Phils to a 4-3 victory over the San Diego Padres with his two-run homer in the eighth inning of Game 5. According to Paul Casella of MLB.com, “He finished the series 8-for-20 (.400) with two homers, three doubles, five RBIs and four runs scored in five games.”

He also covered 17 total bases and had a slugging percentage of .850.

Don’t take that lightly. After all, the Phillies are headed to the World Series after not making it to the playoffs at all since 2011. That’s one of the best ways to end a playoff drought, and the only thing that can make it better would be winning the World Series.

Rosario, on the other hand, went 14-for-25 (.560) with three homers, nine RBIs, 26 total bases, a slugging percentage of 1.040 and an OPS of 1.647. Both are great players that helped their teams reach the World Series, and if Harper can have as much of an impact as Rosario did starting Friday, the Phillies could win the title this year.

Bryce Harper gives the Phillies hope of winning the World Series

Harper has been an incredible hitter through his career, but he unfortunately didn’t have the easiest regular season in 2022. He faced several injuries and a bit of time away, which put him under his career average in terms of games played. He did, however, still slash an impressive .286/.364/.514 for an OPS of .878.

It’s no surprise that he’s thriving in the postseason, but he’s consistently performing much better than anyone could’ve expected. If he can continue to bring the sort of production this team has grown accustomed to, he could help the Phillies win their first World Series title since 2008.