Philadelphia Phillies veteran slugger Bryce Harper launched a first-inning record-setting swing during a crazy 9-8 11 11-inning loss at home on Wednesday night against the Boston Red Sox.
Bruce Harper Reaches Career Milestone
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Harper Sets MLB Home Run RecordÂ
Playing at Citizens Bank Park, Harper showed that flair for the dramatics when in the first inning right after giving up a home run to Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber, it was Harper’s turn to shine as he slammed a fastball thrown by Red Sox starter Lucas Giolito 439 feet to right center which not only gave the Phillies a 3-0 lead but put Harper into the MLB record books.
Harper, who on April 28, 2012, at age 19 made his MLB debut with the Washington Nationals, became at age 32 the youngest player to reach the 350 home run plateau.
With that historic shot, Harper also joins an exclusive club pertaining such names as Mike Trout, Freddie Freeman, Aaron Judge, Nolan Arenado, and Paul Goldschmidt as players still playing who have hit that milestone.
Earlier this year, Judge became the fastest ever to reach the 350-home run mark at 1,088 games and a record 3,928 total at-bats.
Over the Past Handful of Games, Harper Has Been on a Torrid Hitting Streak
The Phillies, who sit only .5 games back of the New York Mets for first place in the NL East, couldn’t be happier and more pumped to have back a red-hot Harper who upon returning after missing a month due to injury has over a nine -game stretch hit .429 with nine doubles, four homers, seven RBIs and a 1.529 OPS.
The Phillies slugger needed 6,207 at-bats before hitting that magical 350th home run, which makes him the 105th player in MLB history to reach that plateau.
“Yeah, pretty awesome, obviously on an individual note,” Harper said. “Super happy about it.”
Harper Putting Together a First-Ballot Hall of Fame Career
 Originally Harper was drafted first overall in 2010 by the Washington Nationals, where shortly afterwards he agreed to a five-year contract worth $9.9 million, which included a $6.25 million signing bonus along with eight semesters of college tuition.
During his career, which included seven years with the Nationals followed by this current seven with the Phillies, Harper has, in 6,211 career at-bats, strung together 1,128 runs along with 1,745 hits, 1,018 RBI’s and a career .281 batting average.
While with the Nationals, Harper first made his mark as a rookie when in 139 games he accumulated 144 hits, 98 runs, 59 RBI’s, and 22 home runs to win NL Rookie of the Year honors.
Harper has played in eight All-Star Games (2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, and 2024) and is a two-time NL All-Star, having won in not only 2015 but also 2021.
Other career achievements include being a four-time Silver Slugger Award winner (2015, 2021, 2023, and 2024), along with being a two-time NL Hank Aaron Award winner (2015 and 2021), and winning the NL home run title when he hit 42.
 Harper Puts Himself In Exclusive Baseball Company
With the home run, Harper also becomes only the 12th MLB player to ever achieve such career milestones as 350 home runs and 1,000 walks both before the age of 33. This list contains such Hall of Fame names as Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Mel Ott, Barry Bonds, and Lou Gehrig.
World Series Quest
This season, the Phillies have a deadly two-some in their batting order with Harper and Schwarber, who, heading into the last week of July, have 34 home runs and 78 RBI, along with 72 runs scored. The one thing missing from Harper’s standout resume is a World Series ring, which he will be on the hunt for this coming October. No question that these two sluggers will play a big role if the Phillies are to fulfill that quest.
Main Image: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
