There’s been a wave of chatter coming out of Philadelphia about Bryce Harper’s rocky relationship with the Phillies. After team president Dave Dombrowski publicly questioned whether Harper could get back to an elite level following a down year, Harper didn’t hide how upset he was. “It’s disappointing to hear my commitment being questioned. It really hurts, because I love Philly,” he said.

Things seem to be cooling off now, though… Harper and the front office reportedly had a “nice conversation” and may be moving past the tension. However, Harper has again found himself back in the spotlight, and this time it has nothing to do with baseball.

“The raw milk is winning. Who is this?” Phillies insider Absolutely Hammered shared a snapshot of Harper sporting a new look.

Well, Harper’s had plenty of memorable moments tied to that big, bold beard of his. He came into the league clean-shaven, but over time, that full, perfectly groomed beard, often paired with his long hair, became part of the classic Bryce Harper look. Still, he’s never been afraid to switch things up.

Remember earlier this May? He rolled out a fresh haircut while he was sitting on an OPS+ of 118. And back in 2023, right in the middle of a brutal cold stretch, he surprised everyone by shaving his beard completely. Even though he only hit .230/.398/.483 that month, he did knock out six HRs and drive in 17 runs — his second-best RBI month of the year.

It also kicked off a playoff run where he launched five home runs and drove in six.

Now he’s at it again. The trademark thick beard? Gone. In its place: a full walrus mustache!!!

And of course, the timing couldn’t be ignored. Harper played 132 games in 2025 with numbers that dipped from his usual standards, so fans definitely had something to say about the new look. And they haven’t exactly kept quiet.

Fans are left stunned by Harper’s recent antics

What could be the reason for Harper to change his facial look? Fans are in a rush to relate to his current state with the Phillies. One fan said, “Must have changed his appearance so he wouldn’t end up in a ditch.” “Maybe Dave was right, dude needs rehab,” added another. While every time Harper sported a different look when he faced a slump, this time the impact would be higher, considering the Phillies’ front office called him out.

“Can he rise to the next level again? I don’t really know that answer,” Dombrowski commented about Harper. And we all know how much Harper hates talking about trades, which made him sign a long 13-year contract with the Phillies. “Now there is trade talk? I made every effort to avoid this,” Harper said. Thus, as per the fans, in order not to get down further, Bryce Harper is back with his new look that could be a catalyst to start the next season with a bang. And guess what, some fans are actually betting on this theory. “That’s your 2026 World Series MVP,” another user added.

Since Dombrowski’s remark about Harper, fans have mostly sided with the slugger, considering his past stats. However, this time, the fans also might be changing their sides. “No wonder they want to trade him,” one user remarked. “Alright, I think I might be on Dombroski’s side now,” added another. So does that relate to Harper’s new look? Hopefully no…

Rather, fans are more concerned about how Harper is looking down and tired in the image. Well, we are agreeing here with the fans, but now, as Dombrowski shared how he had a good meeting with Harper, we hope things will look better hereon. However, it is too early to conclude on Bryce Harper. Why? Because hitting 27 HRs is no joke.

Compare it with teams like the Red Sox, their best hitter, Trevor Story, scored 25 HRs this year. So, it’s just about time that Harper would be back to his best. Maybe this new look would only complement…