Bryce Harper Reacts to Dave Dombrowski’s Assessment: ‘Kind of Wild’

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper expressed his surprise and disagreement with comments made by team president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski last October, where Dombrowski suggested Harper was no longer an elite player. Harper publicly addressed the situation on Sunday, February 15, 2026, calling Dombrowski’s remarks “kind of wild.”

Dombrowski’s Initial Comments

Following the Phillies’ loss in the 2025 NL Division Series, Dombrowski assessed Harper’s performance, stating he didn’t believe the two-time MVP was currently among the top 10 players in baseball. Dombrowski acknowledged Harper’s 2025 season was good, but not at the level of his previous MVP seasons with the Washington Nationals (2015) and the Phillies (2021). “Can he rise to the next level again? I don’t really know that answer,” Dombrowski said according to CBS News.

Harper’s Response

Harper voiced his frustration with Dombrowski’s public critique, particularly given the organization’s initial commitment to handling matters internally. “I don’t gain motivated by that kind of stuff,” Harper told reporters. “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,’ so when that didn’t happen it kind of took me for a run a little bit.” ESPN reported.

2025 Season Recap

In the 2025 season, Harper batted .261 with 27 home runs and 75 RBIs. His .844 OPS was his lowest since 2016. A wrist injury sidelined him for a month during the season. He struggled in the NL Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, going 3-for-15 with no RBIs. Sporting News detailed the situation.

Contract Status

Harper, 33, is under contract with the Phillies for six more seasons as part of a 13-year, $330 million deal.

Looking Ahead

Despite the disagreement with Dombrowski’s assessment, Harper stated he isn’t using the comments as motivation. He acknowledged his performance didn’t meet his own standards and remains focused on improvement. The situation highlights a potential rift between the player and team management as the Phillies prepare for the 2026 season.