Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper told reporters on Feb. 15 that he was surprised that former Middletown High School standout Kyle Schwarber chose to return to Philadelphia rather than join his hometown Cincinnati Reds as a free agent.
“I thought Kyle was going to go to Cincinnati and tell you the truth,” Harper said in an interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I think it’s a done deal to go to Cincinnati. I mean, at home and stuff like that. Obviously, I haven’t — I don’t know. But we’ve been messing with him because he’s going home and playing in front of his fans and stuff like that. I haven’t talked to him a lot. I don’t like being put in that situation. They’re going to do what’s best for their families and their careers…Obviously, I’m excited to have (Schwarber and JT Realmuto) back.” “
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“It’s great to have Schwab back,” Harper continued. “I mean, he’s one of the best home run guys in baseball right now. And, you know, he’s a dynamic guy for us and a leader for our team.”
Harper was playing for the Washington Nationals in 2018 when he was accused by some of cheating in the MLB Home Run Derby by beating Schwarber, who was playing for the Chicago Cubs at the time.
Schwarber, who was a star for the Indiana University baseball team before starting his MLB career, shared a photo of confetti falling at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium to celebrate the IU football team’s victory in the College Football Playoff Championship Game.
In November, Middletown High School’s Wade E. Miller Arena hosted a free public event to celebrate Schwarber’s baseball achievements and community commitment. Days earlier, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine urged the Reds to sign Schwarber.
In December, Schwarber agreed to a five-year, $150 million contract with the Phillies.
This article originally appeared on the Cincinnati Enquirer: Bryce Harper thinks Kyle Schwarber will sign with Reds