Philadelphia Phillies superstar Bryce Harper has delivered a seemingly pointed, two-word retort to comments made by the team's president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski, regarding his performance last season.
The Spark: Dombrowski's 'Elite' Assessment
Back in October, following the Phillies' playoff elimination, Dombrowski offered a frank analysis of Harper's 2025 campaign. The 69-year-old executive stated that the two-time MVP 'didn't have an elite season' and pondered whether the first baseman could return to that status later in his career.
While Dombrowski later claimed to have cleared the air with Harper, the player's recent social media activity suggests the issue may not be fully settled.
Harper's Silent Rebuttal on Social Media
On Boxing Day, the 33-year-old slugger shared a video from a batting practice session on TikTok. The footage itself showed Harper taking swings, but it was his choice of attire that caught everyone's attention.
Standing in the batter's box, Harper wore a simple black T-shirt emblazoned with the phrase: 'Not elite'. The message was widely interpreted as a direct, and somewhat sly, reference to Dombrowski's earlier critique.
Context Behind the Comments
Dombrowski's original remarks came during an end-of-year press conference. He acknowledged Harper as a 'quality' and 'All-Star caliber' player but contrasted his 2025 output with past 'elite' seasons.
'I look around the league … Freddie Freeman. He's a really good player, right? He still is a good player. Is he elite like he was before? Probably not to the same extent,' Dombrowski said, using the Los Angeles Dodgers star as a comparison. 'And, that to me, is Bryce.'
Harper's statistics for the season were indeed down, partly due to a wrist injury. He played in 132 games, batting .261 with 27 home runs, 75 RBIs, and an .844 OPS.
Fan Reaction and Offseason Intrigue
Fans in the comments section of Harper's TikTok video enthusiastically supported the player's apparent dig. One user wrote, ''Not elite' need that 2012-19 KILLER version of Bryce back like I need air', while another predicted, ''Not elite' the man is angry… mvp [soon]'.
The incident adds another layer to Harper's unconventional offseason, which recently included headlines for a procedure to remove a third of his blood in a bid to improve his health and prolong his career.
Whether this T-shirt message is a light-hearted jab or a sign of deeper friction remains to be seen, but it has undoubtedly stoked conversation about Harper's motivation and relationship with the Phillies' front office ahead of the new season.
