In the lively setting of Clearwater, Fla., as the Phillies gear up for another Grapefruit League game, José Alvarado made quite the entrance. Fresh off the World Baseball Classic, Alvarado, who couldn’t pitch for Team Venezuela due to an insurance issue, brought a golden reminder of the tournament's excitement back to camp.
Bursting into the clubhouse with a WBC gold medal, Alvarado's energy was infectious. His teammates erupted in laughter as he made his way through, proudly sharing his achievement with everyone, especially his American teammates.
Meanwhile, Bryce Harper, with a vintage camcorder tucked away in his locker, reflected on the tournament. Despite Team USA's shortfall, Harper cherished the experience. “I thought baseball won in that moment,” he mused, appreciating the global celebration of the sport.
The Phillies had plenty to celebrate from the WBC. Aaron Nola shone for Team Italy, while outfield prospect Dante Nori made the all-tournament team. Cristopher Sánchez delivered a standout performance for the Dominican Republic, and Brad Keller and Kyle Schwarber made their marks with Team USA.
Harper, despite a slow start, found his rhythm with a pivotal swing in the title game, returning to camp in high spirits. “I felt great the whole time,” Harper shared, attributing any struggles to timing. He’s set to play three more exhibition games, focusing on maintaining momentum into the season.
Harper’s approach at the plate is under the spotlight. Last year, he swung at the first pitch 53.8% of the time, a strategy teams began exploiting.
With a high percentage of 0-0 pitches out of the strike zone, Harper often found himself in self-inflicted 0-1 counts. This spring, however, Harper is showing improvement, swinging at fewer pitches outside the zone.
“Me just giving a crap about it, right?” Harper candidly explained his renewed focus.
He aims to increase his walk rate, understanding the value of patience at the plate. “If I can walk 140-150 times this year, then I think I’ll be right where I want to be,” he added.
While reaching 140 walks is ambitious, Harper’s shift in mindset is promising. The Phillies might start the season with Harper batting second, testing his patience regardless of who follows him in the lineup.
Though his WBC stats weren't stellar, Harper found value in pitch recognition, a skill he plans to carry into the season. “Winning a gold medal in the WBC would have been incredible,” Harper said, “but winning a World Series trophy is what you play for, what you dream for. Hopefully, looking forward to doing that this year.”