Harper offers a blueprint

The first-place Philadelphia Phillies brought a comfortable lead in the National League East into Rogers Centre Tuesday for a quick twogame series with a superstar lineup packed with household names like Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, Aaron Nola and Zach Wheeler.

- MIKE WILNER

Bryce Harper and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s numbers are similar through six seasons, Mike Wilner writes. But there's been some inflation since Harper signed his deal in March 2019, so $330 million (U.S.) might not be enough to lock Vlad up.

Their brightest star, though, is Bryce Harper.

Described as “Baseball’s Chosen One” on the cover of Sports Illustrated at the age of 16, Harper is one of those rare hyped-up prodigies who has actually lived up to expectations.

In his 13th year in the majors, the Las Vegas native has won two Most Valuable Player awards and three Silver Sluggers, been an all-star eight times, won rookie of the year and a home run derby.

Harper has made six trips to the playoffs, reaching the World Series once, losing to the Houston Astros with the Phils in 2022 but winning MVP of the National League Championship Series along the way.

It’s a Hall of Fame resume, no doubt, and the early part of it looks a whole lot like what the other first baseman in Tuesday night’s 10-9 Phillies win over the Blue Jays has put together.

The parallels between Harper and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. are uncanny, going all the way back to when a young Vladdy was hailed as baseball’s next great superstar when he was only 16 years old himself.

The young Jays’ slugger is flattered by the comparison.