Bryce Harper emphasizes Phillies&#39; cleanup hitter has a &#39;big job to do&#39;

Bryce Harper emphasizes Phillies' cleanup hitter has a 'big job to do' originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Coming into Spring Training and the 2026 MLB season, the Philadelphia Phillies have World Series aspirations. But before they can make such a push, they need to figure out their lineup.

While Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Trea Turner are all slated to be atop the lineup, there is one spot still left that's arguably the most important: the cleanup hitter.

As Todd Zolecki of MLB.com shared, Harper emphasized how the Phillies cleanup hitter has a "big job to do" in 2026. That player, whoever it will be, will be the most important player int he leinup for the Phillies.

Phillies cleanup hitter has 'big job to do' per Bryce Harper

"I think it makes a huge impact in the four spot," Harper said. "I mean, I think anybody. It doesn't matter if it's me or Schwarbs, because if Schwarbs is sitting there, the same thing is going to happen. So I think the four spot is a huge impact."

The Phillies cleanup spot is a big issue for the team heading into 2026. Last season, it didn't exactly go to plan. Harper, hitting third, didn't have protection for most, if not all, of the season.

"I think the numbers in the four spot weren't very good last year for our whole team," Harper said. "I think whoever's in that four spot is gonna have a big job to do, depending on who's hitting three or who's hitting two."

Entering 2026, Alec Bohm is the most likely cleanup hitter. But, new right fielder Adolis Garcia, or J.T. Realmuto, could earn the cleanup spot for the 2026 season.

More: Bryce Harper urges Phillies to reunite with Rhys Hoskins, beloved slugger is game

Harper had an .844 OPS last season, and while it wasn't his best year, it also wasn't a bad season despite Dave Dombrowski saying it wasn't an "elite" year.

If the Phillies can find a better cleanup hitter, most likely a right-handed hitter with lefties Harper and Schwarber in the top three already, then the Phillies lineup would be in a better spot.

Harper is correctly identifying the importance of the cleanup hitter ahead of the 2026 MLB season. Regardless of who it is, whether it's Bohm, Garcia, or Realmuto, the Phillies need better production from their cleanup spot.

Keeping an eye on the top right-handed hitters will be big this spring, as whoever can put together a good spring at the plate might earn the cleanup spot, which is arguably the most important spot in the lineup for the Phillies in 2026.

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