Bryce Harper
In 10 seasons, the 28-year-old Harper has passed the halfway point. He’s at 255 and counting. He signed with the Phillies through 2031. He’s avoided injury since 2017 and is aging well, as he’s having a star-caliber season in 2021. As I alluded to in Stanton, things can turn quickly and it’s never a “good” bet to say someone will get to 500 home runs when they are this far away. Harper is definitely on pace, though. I’ll say he gets there.

Manny Machado
Machado is a few months older than Harper and is now 29, but they are both in their age-28 seasons (it’s determined with a June 30 cutoff and Machado’s birthday is July 6). Machado is a bit behind Harper at 245 career homers, but if we include Harper here, we have to include Machado with the age and home run totals being so close. Machado is also in his 10th year and is closing in on the halfway point. He’s signed with the Padres through 2028, so it’s possible he won’t have quite as much time.

As the Braves continue to strengthen their place atop the National League East standings, Freddie Freeman is creating reason to wonder if he might end up winning a second straight NL MVP Award.

Freeman strengthened his resume as he hit for the cycle in Wednesday night’s game against the Marlins at loanDepot park. The veteran first baseman became the first Braves player to hit for the cycle multiple times.

Freeman secured the cycle when he homered off Marlins right-hander Luís Madero in the sixth inning. He doubled in the first and tripled during a four-run fourth. His fifth-inning single put him a home run shy of the Braves’ first cycle since he produced one on June 15, 2016, in a win over the Reds.

Freeman joined Trea Turner and Jake Cronenworth as the only players to hit for the cycle this season.