Phillies’ Star Slams Dombrowski’s Comments

Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper appears to have taken a swipe at the team’s president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski following the latter’s critique of Harper’s 2025 season.

Harper was recently spotted wearing a shirt that read “NOT ELITE” in a TikTok video, seemingly in response to Dombrowski’s comments.

Dombrowski’s Criticism

In December 2025, after the Phillies’ postseason exit, Dombrowski suggested that Harper did not have an “elite season” and was not one of the top 10 players in baseball, as he had been in previous years.

“I don’t really know that answer [if Harper can return to elite form]…Really, he’s the one that will dictate that more than anything else,” Dombrowski said.

Harper’s 2025 Season

Harper hit .261 with an .844 OPS in 2025, struggling to meet his usual high standards. He played in 132 games, landing on the injured list with a wrist injury. The Phillies signed him to a 13-year, $330 million deal ahead of the 2019 season.

Dombrowski’s Praise for Harper

Despite his criticism, Dombrowski still sees Harper as an All-Star caliber player. “He’s still a very good player,” Dombrowski said, using Freddie Freeman as a comparison to illustrate his point.

Phillies’ Struggles

The Phillies have been a mainstay in October this decade but have been unable to get over the hump and claim a championship. They were eliminated by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the postseason, who went on to win their second consecutive World Series.