Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper hit a go-ahead, two-run home run against the Washington Nationals on Thursday, a performance that included a gesture directed at fans chanting "f–k Bryce Harper." Harper stated the gesture was with his ring finger, not his middle finger, following the Phillies' 10-5 victory.
"Ring finger, though," Harper said after the game. "Make sure that's out there."
Harper has been a target of boos at Nationals Park since signing a 13-year contract with the Phillies in 2019, ending his seven-year tenure with Washington. During his time with the Nationals, Harper received the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year award and the 2015 NL Most Valuable Player Award, and was selected to the All-Star Game six times.
"It's all part of it," Harper commented on the fan reception. "It's weird coming from a fanbase, obviously, that I sweated for, for seven years, but there's a lot of people around here that enjoy me. So it's all part of it. It's all fun."
The home run came in the ninth inning, propelling the Phillies to a series win against the Nationals. The Phillies rallied from a five-run deficit heading into the sixth inning to secure the 3-1 series victory. This marked the third consecutive game the Phillies hit a go-ahead home run in the ninth inning, a first in MLB history.
Interim manager Don Mattingly noted Harper's resilience, stating, "He's not afraid of the stage. That's one thing for sure. He's been in it his whole life, so I don't think the stage bothers him. I think it probably motivates him when people get on him and stuff like that. I think it's probably something that he feeds off of a little bit."
Harper fell short of a World Series ring with the Nationals, who won the championship in the season after he departed. He also fell short in 2022 when the Phillies lost the World Series to the Houston Astros. Harper is accustomed to facing animosity from opposing fans, often drawing heckling due to his prominent status and perceived confidence.