Bryce Harper Responds to Phillies Exec's 'Wild' Comments

Harper still can't believe Dombrowski questioned if he was still an elite player.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Phillies star outfielder Bryce Harper addressed comments made by team president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski four months ago, where Dombrowski publicly questioned if Harper was still an elite player following a down season. Harper said he was surprised by Dombrowski's remarks, which went against the organization's policy of keeping internal matters private.

Why it matters

Harper is one of the most high-profile players in baseball, and any public comments about his performance or status can be seen as a distraction or slight. The Phillies will need Harper to bounce back in 2026 if they hope to contend, so maintaining a positive relationship between the star player and team leadership is crucial.

The details

After the Phillies' early playoff exit in 2025 and Harper's lowest OPS since 2016, Dombrowski openly wondered if the two-time MVP could return to elite form. Harper said he was 'hurt' by the comments at the time and later wore a 'Not Elite' shirt during a workout, seemingly in response. Harper believes pitchers pitched around him more in 2025 and he had a high swing-and-miss rate, factors that contributed to his down year. With better lineup protection and health, Harper is confident he can bounce back in 2026.

  • In 2025, Harper saw the second-fewest pitches in the strike zone of any MLB hitter.
  • Harper missed 22 games in the summer of 2025 due to inflammation in his right wrist.
  • Dombrowski made his comments about Harper's elite status four months ago.

The players

Bryce Harper

A star outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies and two-time National League MVP.

Dave Dombrowski

The president of baseball operations for the Philadelphia Phillies.

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What they’re saying

“Not really. I don't get motivated by that kind of stuff. For me, it was kind of wild, the whole situation of that happening. I think the big thing for me was when we first met with this organization it was, 'Hey, we're always going to keep things in house and we expect you to do the same thing.' And so when that didn't happen, kind of took me for a run a little bit. So I don't know. It's part of it, I guess. It was kind of a wild situation.”

— Bryce Harper (wlns.com)

“He's still a quality player. He's still an All-Star-caliber player. He didn't have an elite season like he's had in the past. I guess we only find out if he becomes elite or he continues to be good.”

— Dave Dombrowski, Phillies President of Baseball Operations (wlns.com)

What’s next

The Phillies will be closely watching Harper's performance in spring training and the start of the 2026 season to see if he can bounce back to his elite form.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the delicate balance between team leadership and star players, and the need for discretion when discussing a player's performance publicly. Harper's response shows he is motivated to prove Dombrowski wrong and return to being one of the game's premier players.