"Sign Him!" Yells Bryce Harper After J.T. Realmuto Homers in Scrimmage
The Phillies took the field this afternoon for their first intrasquad game of summer camp.
Phillies pitcher Cole Irvin got off to a quick start by promptly retiring the first two batters he faced before issuing a walk to Bryce Harper. Into the box stepped J.T. Realmuto, who, as you may have heard, is set to become a free agent this winter.
Here is what happened next:
Indeed, Bryce Harper was the player. https://t.co/WRfUT44UhH
— Bob Wankel (@Bob_Wankel) July 8, 2020
As the best catcher in baseball made his way back to the dugout, Bryce Harper belted out “Sign him!” so loudly that his words reverberated throughout an empty Citizens Bank Park. If Matt Klentak didn’t hear Harper’s words in real time, I’m sure he will soon enough.
You may recall Harper rocked a Realmuto t-shirt twice last week:
Bryce Harper, with his Realmuto shirt on, out here just launching bombs.
Look at this thing. pic.twitter.com/hEC7CmnlMA
— Bob Wankel (@Bob_Wankel) July 3, 2020
Though Harper later said that he wasn’t trying to make any statements by wearing the shirt, he did tell reporters it would be “sad” and “terrible” if the Phillies can’t ultimately get a deal done with Realmuto.
If there were any questions about Harper’s feelings on the issue, they were, quite literally, made loud and clear today.
Kinker update:
Watch Bryce Harper yell out
“Sign Him!”
After JT Realmuto HR in Phillies scrimmage today
pic.twitter.com/vuIle5iNCd— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) July 8, 2020