Phillies make the most of the All-Star spotlight, from Bryce Harper’s snakeskin to Trea Turner’s web gem
Before Friday's game against the Oakland A's, Bryce Harper was asking about flamethrower Mason Miller. After seeing him throw 104 miles per hour, Harper said he "changed my mind" on facing Miller.
![Trea Turner made a diving catch, then a flip to second base to force out Yordan Alvarez in the second inning of the All-Star Game.](https://www.inquirer.com/resizer/7kH95opVgAw5JzXwKMHEAWCFB64=/760x507/smart/filters:format(webp)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/pmn/6I4GVNYJJNAQXLNJWZ6EABGK74.jpg)
With a record eight players selected for the All-Star Game — and six actually playing — there was no shortage of Phillies moments on the field over the last few days. Alec Bohm made it to the semifinals of the Home Run Derby, with an assist from Bryce Harper, on Monday, and on Tuesday, Bohm, Harper, and Trea Turner took the field as three quarters of the National League’s starting infield.
But before the game even started, Harper was already in top form. Of course he was going to play up the Texas theme for the home crowd. Harper wore snakeskin cowboy boots, a massive belt, and a cowboy hat.
“Everywhere you go, I think you should match the city, match the vibe,” Harper told MLB Network on the red carpet.
That theme carried over into the game, as Harper donned snakeskin cleats and matching gear.
» READ MORE: ‘The Showman’ Bryce Harper has an All-Star Game stage. What’s his next surprise act?
Bohm also made the most of his All-Star look, using his jacket as a tribute to everywhere he has played baseball, from the Phillies to his high school team, with one exception. He forgot to add Wichita State, his college team — but not for lack of love for the Shockers.
“All the steps along the way, you know, they’re all worth it,” Bohm told MLB Network on the red carpet. “Everyone’s run’s different, and I couldn’t come up with anything else, so that’s what we settled on.”
Matt Strahm also had a unique custom outfit — a belt made out of 14 Phillies baseball cards, featuring himself and his other Phillies’ All-Star teammates. The belt even got a baseball card of its own, thanks to Topps.
Turner wows Harper while mic’d up
In the second inning, Turner, Bohm, and Harper were all mic’d up for an in-game All-Star interview. During the interview, this happened:
“Let’s go!” Harper exclaimed. “Are you kidding me?”
“How’s that belt feel?” Bohm asked.
“The belt feels brutal, that’s why I don’t wear these things,” Turner replied.
Turns out, Turner usually wears a Little League belt, but broke out a “show belt, for the boys” in honor of the All-Star Game.
» READ MORE: The Phillies’ infield trio puts on a show while mic’d up during the AL’s 5-3 win over NL in MLB All-Star game
Harper’s good without facing Mason Miller
Harper and the Phillies picked up a stray on the way to the All-Star Game — Oakland A’s flamethrower Mason Miller.
“Our first base coach Bobby Crosby had told me that Harper was asking, when I was warming up, ‘Hey, is that Miller? I kind of want to get in there and see what that’s about,’ ” Miller said pregame. “I threw Friday and I was up to like 104, so I saw him on the plane and was like, ‘I heard you wanted to get in and see me,’ and he was like, ‘Ah, I’m good. I changed my mind.’ ”
Harper was one batter away from facing Miller in the fifth inning, but Miller struck out his Phillies teammate Turner with a 104 mph pitch to end the inning after also striking out Shohei Ohtani.
The Phillies could guarantee Harper never has to worry about facing Miller again — by bringing him back with them on the plane via trade. The team will likely look to upgrade the bullpen at the deadline, and it’s possible Miller is a target, but with five years of control, the A’s likely aren’t looking to make the move, Scott Lauber recently reported. Phillies fans can dream though, right?
» READ MORE: Own team uniforms in the All-Star Game and MLB players in the Olympics? Bryce Harper might get his wishes.
Phillies All-Star stats
Here’s how every Phillie that appeared in the game performed in the NL’s 5-3 loss:
Bryce Harper: 1-for-3, double
Trea Turner: 1-for-3
Alec Bohm: 1-for-2
Cristopher Sánchez: 0.2 IP, 0 ER
Jeff Hoffman, 0.1 IP, 0 ER
Matt Strahm: 0.1 IP, one strikeout