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Harper made his debut at 19 years old and turned 20 during his rookie season. He is the youngest winner of the Rookie of the Year Award, whereas the average age of the Rookie of the Year is about 23 years old. At the end of the 2022 season, he had played 11 seasons in the league and only turned 30 in October 2022. Harper’s early success with the Nationals established him as a star, which made his potential free agency after the 2018 season one of the hottest topics in MLB circles. However, with Washington struggling, it became apparent that Harper would leave the team that drafted him in 2010. While all the notable franchises made runs to get him, it was a team in the same division as the Nationals that he signed with, the Philadelphia Phillies. Harper signed a 13-year, $330 million contract that was the biggest contract signed in MLB history at the time. Five other contracts have since surpassed it, but it was a monumental deal then and still is today. However, in a day and age in MLB where big contracts are necessary for superstars, the Phillies are probably glad to have done it.

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Bryce Harper