From the moment Harrison Bader slipped on a Phillies uniform, it just made sense.
The energy. The defense. The all-out style of play.
Since arriving from the Twins at the Trade Deadline, Bader has injected Philadelphia with exactly the kind of spark that wins in October.
A veteran of nine seasons on his sixth club, Bader joined a crowded outfield mix that already included Nick Castellanos, Brandon Marsh and Max Kepler.
Before the swap, he was putting together a solid season in Minnesota, tallying 25 extra-base hits in 96 games with a .778 OPS. His bat was red hot in July — five homers, a .914 OPS and 11 RBIs in the month.
Three weeks after the trade, Castellanos told reporters that Bader had been frustrated with his playing time, understandable for a guy swinging the bat well before the trade. His first few weeks in Philly were rough, hitting just .171 in his first 41 at-bats.
Then came August 20th against Seattle, when Rob Thomson gave him the nod, and Bader took off. From that point on, he slashed .346/.390/.522 with 15 extra-base hits to close out the regular season.
Down 5-3 in the eighth, Harrison Bader has his biggest hit as a Phillie! He ties the game with a two-run home run, his 14th of the year.
His impact went far beyond the numbers. Bader, who primarily played left field with Minnesota, immediately stabilized center field for Philadelphia. His 85th-percentile sprint speed was on full display, flagging down balls gap-to-gap from Monty’s Angle to the bullpen — complete with his trademark crab-walk backpedal.
When Trea Turner landed on the injured list in late September, Thomson moved Bader into the leadoff spot, and the results spoke for themselves. Over 13 games atop the order before the final homestand, he hit .339, sparking an offense that notched nine wins, including a sweep of the Mets and a statement series victory in Los Angeles.
“Winning baseball is a universal language,” Bader said. “We all come from different places, but the goal’s the same. The only focus for me was taking advantage of the opportunity to help this team win.”
Rob Thomson, Taijuan Walker, Brandon Marsh, and Bader himself talk about how the centerfielder has brought the energy since becoming a Phillie at the trade deadline.
That mindset made him an easy fit in a clubhouse full of veterans who’ve lived the highs and lows of Red October.
“There are no cliques here,” Bader said. “It’s about doing your job and executing. You gain respect by playing winning baseball.”
It’s the same approach that made him a postseason hero in the Bronx. In 2022, Bader homered five times in nine playoff games for the Yankees — experience that fuels his confidence now in Philadelphia.
“You can’t play hero ball,” he said. “It’s about having a good at-bat, passing the baton, doing the little things that win a series.”
Bader has worked tirelessly to evolve as a hitter. After an injury in 2023, he spent last offseason reworking his mechanics with a biomechanist in Tampa.
“I didn’t want to go back to who I was — I wanted to be someone new,” he said. “The game’s about evolving.”
He certainly evolved. This mechanical change has allowed Bader to exhibit strong offensive production against right-handed pitchers.
Coming into 2025, Bader posted a career .775 OPS versus left-handers and a .670 against righties.
This season, Bader’s splits are reversed, which can be beneficial as you generally face more right-handed pitching. His OPS against righties is .845 (344 AB), while it’s .689 versus southpaws (157 AB).
Off the field, Bader’s personality has become just as impactful as his play. He actually inspired teammates to join his “crop top” pregame routine during the summer heat.
“I’d never tell another grown man to wear a crop top,” Bader laughed. “But it shows how together this group is.”
And then there’s his appreciation for the city itself.
“The fans here make this place special,” he said. “They share the same passion we do. I’m grateful to compete in front of that energy.”
In just two months, Bader has become everything the Phillies could have hoped for, and he’s a reminder of what makes this group so dangerous in October.
He’s been here a short time, but in every sense, Harrison Bader already feels like a perfect fit for Philadelphia.
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