Report: Former Florida Gators OF Harrison Bader traded to Phillies in deal with Twins

Once a standout for Florida baseball, Harrison Bader is on the move in Major League Baseball.

The former Gators outfielder was traded Wednesday afternoon from the Minnesota Twins to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for two prospects in outfielder Hendry Mendez and right-handed pitcher Geremy Villoria, according to reports.

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Bader, 31, has been a defensive force in center field since his days in Gainesville, and that glove remains elite. He’s also putting together a solid season at the plate, hitting .258 with 12 home runs, 38 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 96 games for Minnesota.

Bader’s been especially hot lately, batting .412 over his last seven games.

For Philadelphia, Bader is the type of veteran addition that can tilt postseason games. His range, speed and experience make him a dangerous weapon.

Bader played at Florida from 2013-2015, helping the Gators make multiple deep postseason runs before being drafted in the third round by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2015.

Since then, he’s built a reputation as one of the game’s most respected defensive outfielders, winning a Gold Glove in 2021 and making highlight-reel catches look routine.

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While the Twins add promising young talent for the future, Philadelphia is banking on Bader’s steady presence to help them chase another deep playoff run.

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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Report: Former Florida Gators OF Harrison Bader traded to Phillies

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