Bryce Harper is on one of those hot streaks where you start checking the box score twice a day. Over the last two games, he’s hit for the cycle on Saturday and then nearly did it again on Sunday, falling a triple short of back-to-back cycles. The Phillies won both games, and Harper is the reason why.
The secret behind his sudden power surge? A heavier bat.
Harper has been swinging a 35-ounce bat through Philadelphia’s last two wins. According to Paul Casella of MLB.com, Harper isn’t committing to that weight all season, but he’s noticed a difference. And he’s not overthinking it either.
“I don’t know if that’s the reason why, to tell you the truth,” Harper said. “I’m not sure. I felt good swinging it, so I’m gonna go until I can’t with it, right?”
He added that he’ll pick and choose his spots. Some days he’ll feel strong enough to swing the heavier bat, other days he’ll drop down to something lighter. It’s not a science for him. It’s feel.
Back-to-back brilliance at the plate
On Saturday, Harper became the 11th player in Phillies history to hit for the cycle. The next day, facing the Mets, he went 3-for-4 with a home run in a 6-2 win. He was one triple away from pulling off something nobody in MLB has managed in decades.
Through 77 games in 2026, Harper is hitting .266 with 17 home runs and 44 RBIs. Those numbers put him second on the team in homers and RBIs, trailing only Kyle Schwarber. But the timing of this hot stretch matters. The Phillies are 42-35 and trying to keep pace in a tough NL East.
Nobody expects Harper to keep hitting for the cycle every night. That streak will end, probably soon. But the Phillies need him to stay hot and anchor the middle of their lineup. If Harper keeps swinging that 35-ounce bat, who’s going to tell him to stop?
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