Video: Phillies’ Bryce Harper Hits Knee-Slide Celebration After HR vs. Mets in London

Adam WellsJune 8, 2024

Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images

As one of the great pandering kings of this generation, Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper broke out a soccer celebration for the crowd at London Stadium after hitting a homer against the New York Mets.

Harper crushed a hanging sweeper from Mets starter Sean Manaea in the top of the fourth inning, then proceeded to hit the knee-slide celebration when he got to the warning track dirt in front of the Phillies’ dugout.

“I didn’t tell any of my teammates because I wanted them all to be pretty surprised,” Harper told reporters of his celebration after a 7-2 win over the Mets.

MLB @MLBBryce Harper had One Direction.

To smack this baseball a long way. #LondonSeries pic.twitter.com/8UJ6KZJhtp

MLB @MLBA colder celebration than Simon Cowell on American Idol #LondonSeries pic.twitter.com/mx6Hbhlot0

Harper was taking a risk doing that particular soccer celebration. He started his run very close to the dirt where there’s not a lot of room before hitting the dugout gate.

Fortunately, Harper’s momentum stopped quickly and prevented a potential rough moment for what should only have been a celebration.

The Phillies and Mets are playing a two-game series in London this weekend. Saturday was the first game between the two NL East rivals.

Manaea looked to be in complete control of the game before Harper’s homer. The only baserunner he allowed through 4.1 innings was a double to Harper in the top of the first.

New York took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Francisco Lindor came around to score on Starling Marte’s double off Phillies starter Ranger Suárez.

The solo blast from Harper opened the floodgates for the Phillies. They put up six runs on six hits in the fourth, chasing Manaea from the game with two outs in the inning.

Harper is now up to 15 homers this season, six away from matching his total in 126 games from the 2023 campaign. He has been one of the main driving forces behind an offense that entered the day ranked second in MLB with 320 runs scored.

The Phillies have been a juggernaut so far this season. Their .698 winning percentage (44-19) coming into Saturday was the best mark in MLB. They are on a 113-win pace, which would shatter the franchise record for most victories in a season (102 in 2011).