The Philadelphia Phillies have announced that right fielder/first baseman Bryce Harper will be on paternity leave to welcome his newborn child. Major League Baseball allows players on the paternity list to miss up to three games.
Harper revealed their pregnancy with his wife, Kayla, via Instagram. The two photos include Harper kissing his wife’s forehead while showing her baby bump. Their two older children, Krew and Brooklyn, held onto the latest ultrasound imaging of their sibling.
Prior to tonight’s game against the Cincinnati Reds, the Phillies placed first baseman Bryce Harper on the paternity list. To fill his spot on the 26-man roster, the club recalled infielder Kody Clemens from triple-A Lehigh Valley.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 22, 2024
If Harper will maximize the leave, he could return during their series closer against the Cincinnati Reds. Through 21 games this season, Harper is batting .241/.330/.443 with 14 RBIs and four home runs in 91 plate appearances.
The three-time Silver Slugger Award winner has 19 hits, including four doubles and ten runs. He has been struck out 21 times and had 11 walks. Taking his place is Kody Clemens, whom the Phillies called up from Triple-A baseball’s Lehigh Valley.
Harper has been with the Phillies since 2019 after signing a 13-year, $330 million contract. Since then, he won the 2021 National League Most Valuable Player Award and earned one All-Star selection. He finished the 2023 season hitting .293/.401/.499 with 72 RBIs and 21 home runs in 546 plate appearances.
In his last game before paternity leave, Harper had one hit and two RBIs in three at-bats against the Chicago White Sox. That victory extends the Phillies’ winning streak to six games, putting them one game behind the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves.
-Lance Fernandez