Bryce Harper is a two-time National League MVP, but is he still elite? That question sparked controversy surrounding the Philadelphia Phillies’ franchise centerpiece after the team fell to the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Divisional round of the MLB playoffs. The debate intensified when Phillies president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski, declined to label Harper as elite.
“Of course, he’s still a quality player,” Dombrowski said. “He’s still an All-Star caliber player. He didn’t have an elite season like he has had in the past. And I guess we only find out if he becomes elite or if he continues to be good.”
Drawing a direct comparison between Harper and Dodgers’ star Freddie Freeman—a former NL MVP and three-time World Series champion—Dombrowski elaborated on Harper’s current standing.
“Can he rise to the next level again? I don’t really know that answer. I mean, really, he’s the one that will dictate that more than anything else, is what it comes down to. I don’t think he’s content with the year that he had. And, again, it wasn’t a bad year, but when I think of Bryce Harper, you’re thinking elite, you’re thinking one of the top 10 players in baseball, and I don’t think [his 2025 season] fit into that category. But, again, very good player.”
### Harper Claps Back With ‘Not Elite’ Shirt in Batting Cages
Harper, an eight-time All-Star, didn’t take the comment lightly. In a TikTok video that quickly went viral, he donned a shirt emblazoned with the words “NOT ELITE” while hitting in the batting cages. The bold move was seen as a direct response to Dombrowski’s remarks and certainly caught fans’ and media attention alike.
### Kayla Harper Deflects Controversy With Family Pajama Post
Meanwhile, Harper’s wife, Kayla, appeared to diffuse the tension with a heartfelt family moment. She shared a photo of Bryce with their four children, all dressed in matching “LOVER” Christmas pajamas.
With nearly $200 million remaining on Harper’s $330 million contract, and Philadelphia famously known as the “City of Brotherly Love,” not to mention the iconic Robert Indiana “LOVE” sculpture, it’s perhaps better for both Harper and the Phillies to be lovers, not fighters.
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https://www.si.com/onsi/athlete-lifestyle/relationships/bryce-harper-wife-kayla-shares-phillies-star-lover-fit-after-not-elite-feud