Bryce Harper shares emotional message thanking D.C. prior to return with Phillies

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Bryce Harper will make his return to Washington, D.C., as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies and will play against his former Nationals teammates for the first time this evening.

It's safe to say many in D.C. are still bitter that Harper opted for more money with none of it deferred to play in a city just up the road. D.C.'s Mayor posted, and then deleted, a social post calling Harper a traitor. Countless fans have altered their old Harper jerseys. Some have even changed their dog's names.

And the reception today when Harper takes the field will surely be chilly.

But that doesn't mean Harper won't always have fond memories of his time in D.C. He did win some games there. But really missed that real playoff success.

Harper took to Instagram this morning to share some of his feelings about his departure and his time in D.C.

"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," Harper begins his Instagram message. "Five years later, I’m doing just that."

"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," Harper wrote.

"The city of DC was home."

Note the past tense.

He ends by thanking D.C.

You can read the whole message below. And watch Harper and the Phillies take on Max Scherzer and the Nationals this evening.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvwYAn4AFPN/

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