Bryce Harper self identifies as a No. 3 hitter. He’s comfortable in the No. 2 spot. He was brilliant in the cleanup spot for the Phillies during the 2022 postseason.
He is not interested in becoming the Phillies leadoff hitter. Harper, when speaking with reporters in Clearwater over the weekend, said, “I’ll take the extra at-bats, but I don’t want to hit leadoff.”
Harper was the Phillies’ leadoff hitter for a brief period of time in August 2019. Manager Gabe Kapler was looking to create a spark offensively. He went to Harper with two separate lineups before an Aug.