Bryce Harper Would Be Phillies’ ‘Golden Batter’
If MLB were to implement the “Golden Batter” rule for the 2025 season, the Philadelphia Phillies wouldn’t need much time to decide who their “Golden Batter” would be—first baseman Bryce Harper.
Recently discussed among owners, though not set for immediate implementation, the “Golden Batter” or “Golden At-Bat” rule would allow any player on a team’s roster to hit at any time during a game, even if it’s not their scheduled turn. This concept gained attention following the dramatic final out of the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout faced off. Under this rule, Harper would be the Phillies’ version of Trout.
Harper has a stellar career, with a .281/.389/.522 slash line, 336 home runs, 976 RBIs, and a 143 OPS+ in 1,653 games. He’s also a two-time National League MVP, a four-time Silver Slugger, and an eight-time All-Star.
Imagine a scenario where there’s a runner on third with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning of a tied game—Harper, not Johan Rojas, would step up to the plate as the “Golden Batter.”
This rule was first introduced in exhibition games by the Savannah Bananas, alongside other unconventional rules like requiring a sprint to first base on a walk. While MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has mentioned that the idea is still in the early stages of discussion, it remains an intriguing possibility for the future.
For the Phillies, though, choosing Harper as their “Golden Batter” is a no-brainer.
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