The Philadelphia Phillies have been on fire – they capped off the 2024 season with their best record since 2011. Finishing second overall, they are tied with the San Diego Padres for the most All-MLB nominations with nine players in the mix. Their top players like Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Zack Wheeler, have played key roles in setting the tone for the team. With the All-MLB Team honors set on the horizon in December, all eyes will be on them.

The award recognizes top performers in first and second-team selections. This year, Harper shone brightly in his first full season as a first baseman. MLB insider Chris Rose recently caught up with Brewers’ first baseman Rhys Hoskins and Harper’s former Phillies teammate, where Hoskins praised Harper’s passion for the game and the traits that fueled the Phillies’ impressive season and solidified their standings overall. 

Rhys Hoskins celebrates Bryce Harper’s fire

Rhys Hoskins and Bryce Harper have had impressive 2024 seasons with their teams. The Phillies clinched the NL East title, a remarkable achievement for the team. Meanwhile, Hoskins’ current Milwaukee Brewers team clinched the NL Central crown. It’s been a fantastic year for both players. And in the recent episode of “The Chris Rose Rotation,” Hoskins opened up about what makes Harper stand out from the rest of his peers.

Rhys Hoskins explained on the JM Baseball podcast, “Just the fire that this guy plays the game with, between the lines every single day,” Hoskins noted, adding, “A certain switch gets flipped on and he doesn’t want to lose. He just kinda decides, which is amazing. I think it’s a huge part of why he’s been as successful as he has, he holds himself to a standard that a lot of us can’t really fathom.” It’s clear from Rhys Hoskins’s statements that Harper’s intensity is the reason for his success. 

With nine players of the Philadelphia Phillies nominated for the All-MLB team, the excitement is palpable. However, that’s not to say they didn’t face challenges. They had several players going through injuries, which affected the team’s consistency. This does raise eyebrows about how the voting process will fare for them. But till then, they have another win in their bag, with two of their players making it into the list of most MLB jersey sales.

Bryce Harper’s jersey – the second best-selling in MLB behind Shohei Ohtani!

You can’t go through the Citizens Bank Park without spotting a Bryce Harper jersey, because it’s everywhere! And now, it all makes sense—the MLB and MLB Players Inc. recently revealed that Harper’s jersey ranks as the second best-seller in baseball. It’s a vast deal in itself, also because he is just behind Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. The Japanese star had also claimed the top spot in 2023.

This season, though, Harper has truly shone in the Phillies. He has a stellar .373 on-base percentage and collected 157 hits, the highest total since 2015. Harper even surpassed Aaron Judge from the New York Yankees and Dodgers star Mookie Betts. It’s important to note that the Phillies didn’t have any players in top 20 jersey sales in 2023. However, now, they do, having recently secured their National League East title and an exciting October is ahead.

Right now, the Phillies have two players in the top 20 in Jersey sales with Trea Turner in no.13 spot. So, what do you think about Harper and his popularity? Let us know in the comments.