The Philadelphia Phillies haven’t had the strongest start to the season, and Bryce Harper is going through a similar struggle. His low production has fans frustrated and critics growing louder — but manager Rob Thomson felt the need to speak up, delivering a strong message in Harper’s defense.

In a recent article by Matt Gelb for The Athletic, Thomson addressed Harper’s early-season struggles, offering a clear show of support for the star slugger. “He’s really the last guy I worry about,” Thomson said of No. 3, who has yet to find the rhythm everyone expects from him.

“Especially a guy like him because he puts a lot of pressure on himself,” Thomson said before Sunday’s series finale against the Diamondbacks. “His expectations of himself are higher than anybody else. And he knows how important he is to the ballclub, to the city and the franchise. And so he wears it. He really does. That’s who he is. But I can tell you this: He’s handled it a lot better than he has in the past this year.”

How is Harper handling the situation?

Thomson said Harper is “staying calm,” and credited him for managing the pressure with maturity. He also emphasized that Harper’s presence in the clubhouse remains positive: “He’s been a really good teammate, even when he goes through struggles. He’s been really good.”

Harper himself hasn’t shied away from the situation either. He recently spoke candidly about his struggles with the Phillies, being as honest and self-critical as possible to show he understands what’s happening and where improvements are needed.

Harper’s numbers through 34 games

Through 34 games this season, Harper is slashing .234 — slightly down from last year, when he was hitting .262 through the same span with 148 plate appearances. This year, he has six more plate appearances but hasn’t found a better rhythm. After the conclusion of the recent homestand, Harper has tallied 20 runs, 30 hits, 6 home runs, and 17 RBIs. He’s struck out 17 times — compared to 32 strikeouts at this point last season.