Bryce Harper Closes Chapter in DC with Heartfelt Farewell Message to Nationals Fans

Bryce Harper is set to make his first return to Nationals Park after signing a 13-year, $330 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, the Nats’ rivals. Before he enters the ballpark he called home for the previous seven years, Harper addressed the Nationals, ownership, and their fans reminiscing on his time in the nation’s capital in a lengthy farewell message via Instagram.

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If you would have told me 5 years ago I would be walking into Nationals Park as an opposing player, I would’ve told you that you were crazy. Five years later, I’m doing just that. I remember the first day I walked into Nats Park. My first base hit. My first home run. And, of course, my first standing ovation. Nationals fans delivered that first ovation. The things that I will miss most are the relationships I gained on a personal level with so many of the Nationals staff and workers around the ballpark. Every day I walked in, I got a smile or shared a laugh with you. I especially want to thank The Lerner Family and Mike Rizzo for the unwavering support they showed me during my tenure in DC. The city of DC was home. Filomena’s, The Silver Diner, The Italian store, and countless other places helped make it feel like home. You, Nationals fans, made me one of your own for the entire time I was a part of the Nationals organization. I’m so blessed to have been able to play for a fan base that cared so much about our team each and every night. You will always hold a special place in my heart no matter what. I look forward to continuing Harpers Heroes with LLS in the DMV as well as making sure the legacy fields bearing my name are the best youth fields in town! When I run on the field tonight I am sure to hear some boos, but I will always remember the cheers and the screams that are still with me right now, as I start my new chapter. So for that, DC, THANK YOU.

A post shared by Bryce Harper (@bryceharper3) on Apr 2, 2019 at 7:05am PDT

“When I run on the field tonight I am sure to hear some boos, but I will always remember the cheers and the screams that are still with me right now, as I start my new chapter. So for that, DC, THANK YOU,” Harper concluded the caption.

Harper returns to the field he hit 92 of his 186 career home runs while wearing the Nationals’ red and white. Tuesday begins a new sight for Nationals fans, seeing him in enemy red and blue with the Phillies. As the years roll on his time in Washington may become a cliff note in his career, but for him and some there will be those cherished memories he created from 2012-2018 in DC.