Bryce Harper will have a familiar and highly respected baseball figure throwing batting practice pitches when he takes center stage at the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby. The Philadelphia Phillies superstar has selected Los Angeles Dodgers third-base coach Dino Ebel as his pitcher for the annual power-hitting showcase, hoping the veteran coach’s experience can help him capture a second Derby title in front of his home crowd at Citizens Bank Park.
Harper’s decision came only days before the event after he spent weeks weighing whether to participate. The eight-time Phillies slugger admitted his hesitation was largely tied to finding someone he trusted to deliver consistent pitches. During his memorable 2018 Home Run Derby victory in Washington, his father, Ron Harper, served as his pitcher, but that reunion was no longer possible because Ron has not regularly thrown batting practice in recent years.
The former National League MVP said the excitement surrounding Philadelphia hosting the All-Star festivities, along with the opportunity for his children to witness the event, ultimately convinced him to enter the competition. After considering former coaches from his amateur and minor league days, Harper chose Ebel because of the relationship they developed while working together with Team USA earlier this year.
Although Harper acknowledged they will have little opportunity to practice together before the Derby, he expressed confidence in Ebel’s ability to deliver quality batting practice pitches, even if they enter the contest with limited preparation.
Ebel, 60, is widely regarded as one of baseball’s most respected coaches. A California native, he enjoyed a lengthy minor league playing career before transitioning into coaching and managing within the Dodgers organization. After 17 years developing players in Los Angeles’ farm system, he joined the Angels in 2005, eventually becoming the club’s third-base coach and later bench coach before returning to the Dodgers in 2018.
Since rejoining Los Angeles, Ebel has helped the Dodgers capture three World Series championships while continuing to build his reputation as one of the game’s premier instructors. He has also served as Team USA’s third-base coach in the last two World Baseball Classic tournaments.
His Home Run Derby credentials further strengthened Harper’s confidence. Ebel previously pitched to Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández during the 2024 Home Run Derby, helping him win the championship. He also threw to Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber during the swing-off portion of the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, giving him recent experience working with Philadelphia’s star hitters.
Harper emphasized that selecting the right pitcher was critical because he wanted to compete with complete confidence rather than worrying about pitch location or timing. With Ebel now in his corner, the Phillies icon will look to recreate the magic of his dramatic 2018 Derby triumph and deliver another memorable performance for the home fans in Philadelphia.
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