In late February, at the end of an off-season that was psychologically grueling for the Philadelphia Phillies fan base, club management led by principal owner John Middleton finally nailed down the big free agent prize they had been chasing all winter.
When 26-year-old outfielder Bryce Harper agreed to his 13-year, $330 million contract with the Phillies, those fans saw it as a signal that their team was back and ready to contend. Harper would be the linchpin of a revamped Phillies lineup, bashing balls with record-setting frequency over the Citizens Bank Park fences.
But as the Phillies worked their way to the top of the National League East Division standings over the first seven weeks of the season, Harper largely struggled.