Inside The Phillies

Bryce Harper Slighted in Latest MLB Top-100 Players List

Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper was snubbed in ESPN's top-100 MLB players list released on Thursday.
Bryce Harper Slighted in Latest MLB Top-100 Players List
Bryce Harper Slighted in Latest MLB Top-100 Players List

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ESPN released it's Top-100 MLB Players list on Thursday and used, what appears to be subjective opinion and thought, to rank out the top players in the sport. 

Among the most egregious slights the list made was Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper's standing on the list at 58.

Here is what ESPN columnist Jesse Rogers had to say about Harper and his place on the list.

"It doesn't take a baseball expert to understand why Harper is where he is on the list, as he'll be out more than half the season while recovering from Tommy John surgery," Rogers wrote. "His return will certainly boost the Phillies' chances, and he'll undoubtedly continue as one of the most feared hitters in the game. But for the rankings, availability is as important as productivity, so for now Harper is on the outside of the top 50 -- though, he easily could be in a different place going into next season."

Let's start with this:

Harper is not certain to miss 'half of the season' in fact, he very well could be back in the lineup by late May after it was announced he would not be placed on the 60-day injured list prior to the start of the season. 

Even if he doesn't return by the end of May, Harper is a well-renowned quick healer, so a comeback in June is still likely. 

Rogers goes as far to predict that Harper won't be back until late-July, which is by far the latest estimates we have heard, especially with the recent news from President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski.

Even with the injury recovery, putting Harper outside the top-25, much less the top-50, is incredibly insulting for the 2021 National League MVP. Injury or not to start the season, Harper deserves far better.

Rogers was apparently wrong when he said "It doesn't take a baseball expert to understand why Harper is where he is on the list. . ."

More From SI's Inside The Phillies:

  1. Phillies Star Bryce Harper Doesn't Hold Back on Thoughts About Joe Girardi
  2. How Mike Trout Will Join the Phillies
  3. Could Bryce Harper's Favorite MLB Player Join the Philadelphia Phillies in 2023?
  4. Could The Phillies Soon Be Playing in Wawa Park?
  5. Bryce Harper-Obsessed Japanese Baseball Star Wants to Play for Phillies
  6. Six Philadelphia Phillies Declare Free Agency
  7. Rumored Phillies Free Agent Target Just Opted Out of Contract
  8. Jimmy Rollins Describes Disrespectful Treatment by Ryne Sandberg
  9. Phillies Release 2023 Regular Season Schedule
  10. Picking the Phillies' All-Time Single Season Lineup

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Kade Kistner
KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Phillies. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl.  During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated.  Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.