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Bryce Harper 2020 Outlook: It's Not How You Start But How You Finish
5 years agoPhiladelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper is coming off a year that would be considered tremendous for anyone else, yet has him labeled as a disappointment on the heels of a massive contract. A final stat line of 35 HR, 114 RBI, 98 R, 15 SB, and a .260 AVG represent an increase from the year before in each category other than runs scored. Harper also posted strong Statcast numbers, ranking in the 91st percentile in xSLG, 94th percentile in xwOBA, 89th percentile in Exit Velocty, and 86th percentile in Hard Hit Rate.
By all accounts, Harper should be a top-20 fantasy asset, yet his early ADP in NFBC leagues sits at 26, outside the first two rounds of 12-team leagues. Perhaps fantasy owners remember his sluggish start to the season more so than his second half, where he hit more home runs and stole twice as many bases in 108 fewer plate appearances than the first half. Harper and the Phillies didn't get off to the best start of his 13-year contract, missing out on the playoffs, but his strong end to the year and immeasurable talent make him worth selecting as one of the cornerstones of any fantasy team as he enters his age-27 season.
