Harrison Bader, born June 3, 1994 in Bronxville, New York, is a Major League Baseball outfielder known for his elite defensive ability, speed, and improving offensive contributions. From his debut in 2017 to the present, his role has shifted from prospect to regular contributor, with a mix of strengths and areas of growth.
He made his MLB debut with the St. Louis Cardinals and has since played for several teams, including the New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets and currently the Philadelphia Phillies.
His value to teams has often come from his defense and speed, with offense gradually improving. The stats tell a story of a player with strong tools whose production has varied by season and team context.
- Basic Batting & Fielding Stats: Career Snapshot
Let’s start with the basic numbers to anchor the overview.
Batting
According to several sources:
In 2025, Bader posted a batting average of around .277 with 17 home runs, 54 RBIs, and an OPS of about .796.
ESPN.com
StatMuse
In prior seasons his averages were lower — for example, in 2024 he hit about .236 with 12 home runs.
Lineups
Over his career, his batting average has hovered in the .240-.260 range depending on sample and years.
ESPN
Fielding & Defence
While less easy to summarise in a table, Bader’s defensive metrics are strong: sprint speed, centre-field range, and runs saved are all notable. For example, he earned defensive honours in 2021 (Gold Glove) and in 2025 he was recognised among top defenders for the season.
Games & Sample Size
In 2025: 146 games, 448 at bats, 61 runs scored, 124 hits, 24 doubles, 17 homers, 54 RBIs.
StatMuse
These volumes show he’s been a regular contributor.
- Year-by-Year Breakdown & Trends
Digging deeper, observing how Bader’s performance has changed over time helps understand his development and role.
2017–2020 (Early Career)
In 2017 (debut year): 32 games, 85 at bats, average .235.
ESPN.com
In 2018: 138 games, .264 average, 12 home runs.
Lineups
In 2019: 128 games, average roughly .205 (per one source) but in a full-season role.
Lineups
These early years show adjustment to the major leagues, with ups and downs in batting.
2021 – Breakout Defence & Offensive Upside
In 2021 with the Cardinals, he had one of his better offensive seasons (.267 average, .460 slugging) and was recognised for his elite defence.
Lineups
This year marked the period when he began to be seen as more than just a defensive specialist.
2022–2024 – Change of Teams, Role Shifts
2022: Moved around, split time between teams, adjustments.
Lineups
2024: With the Mets, 143 games, but offensive production dipped (.236 average) though he stole 17 bases.
Reuters
This period reflects transition, adapting to new teams and roles.
2025 Season – Rebound & Stronger Numbers
In 2025, current data shows: .277 average, 17 home runs, .796 OPS.
ESPN.com
These mark career highs in key areas and suggest he’s hitting a stride offensively while maintaining defensive strength.
- Advanced Metrics & Underlying Indicators
Beyond raw stats, advanced metrics help to see quality of performance and predictive value.
Statcast & Baseball Savant Metrics
From the source:
In 2025, Bader had AVG .277, OBP .347, SLG .449, OPS .796 over 501 plate appearances.
StatMuse
For example, Statcast shows exit velocity, barrel rate, sprint speed, and other underlying data.
baseballsavant.com
His sprint speed ranks among the fastest in the league; his defence (outs above average, defensive runs saved) remains among the top outfielders.
WAR, WRC+, and Relative Value
According to StatMuse, in 2025 his WRC+ (weighted runs created plus) was about 123.
StatMuse
In other words, he was about 23% better than league average offensively (before or alongside his defence).
Constraints: sample sizes and park/context adjustments will influence these numbers.
Splits & Situational Performance
Bader’s splits vs left‐handed vs right‐handed pitching, home vs away, centre vs corner outfield position can vary, but trends show he’s becoming more consistent.
His base-stealing and speed threats add to his value (though stolen base counts vary).
- Defence & Speed Metrics
As a player whose value is significantly in the field, let’s highlight key defensive/speed indicators:
Highly ranked sprint speeds among outfielders.
Many highlight reel catches, ranging from diving plays to robbing home runs.
In recent months, Bader was named Defensive Player of the Month (March/April) by Sports Info Solutions, leading all players with about 7 Defensive Runs Saved in that period.
Reddit
His ability to play all three outfield spots (left, centre, right) adds versatility—important in modern baseball.
- Strengths Reflected in Stats
Based on the numbers, Bader’s major strengths:
Offensive surge in 2025: The jump in average and OPS indicates improved hitting and better contact/outcomes.
Speed and base running: His stolen base counts, combined with high sprint speed, contribute to runs scored and extra-base taking.
Defensive value: Runs saved, range, outs above average—defense remains elite.
Versatility & durability: Playing many games, many positions; the higher game count in 2025 (146 games) suggests reliability.
Improving underlying metrics: Exit velocity, barrel rate, and advanced metrics show positive trends.
- Limitations & Areas for Improvement
No player is perfect, and the stats highlight some of Bader’s weaker areas:
Power consistency: While 17 home runs in 2025 are good, they are moderate compared to top sluggers.
Offensive consistency in past years: Prior seasons had lower averages and OPS, indicating variability.
Strikeout rate / contact quality: To fully break out, improving contact quality and reducing unproductive outs helps.
Contextual factors: Ballpark, lineup protection, team strategy impact his numbers; comparables may differ.
Age and wear: At 31, maintaining top speed/defense and staying healthy become more challenging.
- What the 2025 Season Suggests
The 2025 numbers show that Bader is performing at a higher level:
.277 batting average, .796 OPS in ~501 plate appearances.
StatMuse
17 home runs, 24 doubles, 124 hits, 61 runs scored — solid production.
StatMuse
Defensive metrics and speed continuing to provide value.
This suggests he might have evolved into a more complete player — one whose offensive value is catching up to his defence. That makes him more than a niche or specialist player; he’s now a contributor on both sides of the ball.
- Comparing to Peers & Evaluating Value
Where does Bader stand compared to similar outfielders?
Among outfielders with strong defence and speed, he now stacks up well offensively vs many who are defense-first.
His improvements in underlying metrics suggest his production is becoming more sustainable.
From a team-building perspective, having a player who offers both defence and improved offence increases his value significantly.
- Implications for Teams / Fantasy / Contracts
Stats matter not just for evaluation but for contracts, trades, fantasy value:
With stronger stats in 2025, Bader’s market value likely increases — for him to get better contract terms, or a team to pay more for him.
For fantasy baseball, his potential for home runs, stolen bases, and runs scored, combined with reliability, makes him interesting.
Teams chasing playoff success might value his defence and speed highly — especially in late-game scenarios.
On the flip side, his previous inconsistency means risk still exists — but the 2025 season helps reduce that risk.
- Final Thoughts & Takeaways
In sum: Harrison Bader’s stats present a compelling picture. He’s long been a standout defender and speed threat; now, his offensive numbers in 2025 suggest he’s rounding into a more complete player.
If he can maintain or build upon his 2025 production, he becomes a high‐value asset (both on the field and in contract/market terms). For teams and evaluators, the improved numbers validate his reputation and provide evidence he can contribute in multiple ways.
However, it’s important to remember context: past seasons were variable, and future seasons may include normal fluctuations, injuries, or changes in role. But the upward trend is real.
For you, if you’re tracking his performance, the key metrics to watch going forward: batting average/OPS, home runs, stolen bases (for speed), and advanced metrics like WRC+, runs saved, sprint speed. If those remain strong, Bader’s value and impact are likely to stay high.
