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'It's My Sanctuary': Bryce Harper Gets First Taste Of Citizens Bank Park As A Phillie

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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – On opening day, Questlove of The Roots is DJing the Phillies' pre-and-post game party. As for the in-game party, it'll be up for the Phillies to provide the hits.

Expectations are sky-high, especially for one player.

Bryce Harper's first at-bat Thursday at Citizens Bank Park is going to be absolutely insane.

Harper hysteria is full tilt, and he knows it.

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The right fielder isn't particularly concerned about it either.

LIVE: New Philadelphia Phillies superstar Bryce Harper speaks to media two days before Opening Day. https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/tag/bryce-harper/

Posted by CBS Philly on Tuesday, March 26, 2019

"When I step into the batter's box, my heart rate, everything like that – it's controlled. It's my sanctuary, it's what I do," Harper said. "I get more stressed out driving down the highway or the freeway, in traffic or super nervous about that or anxiety."

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Harper joined his teammates Tuesday, working out and taking batting practice at Citizens Bank Park for the first time as a Phillie.

He even launched a batting-practice home run.

It was hopefully an omen of good things to come, but if not, Harper isn't too concerned.

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"When I step into the batter's box, 45,000 people going crazy, I would love to put a heart-rate monitor on to see what it looks like," Harper said. "I enjoy those moments. I enjoy the craziness. That's what I do."

One of the things Phillies manager Gabe Kapler appreciates about his young star is his maturity, saying to have those attributes to recognize that at 26 years old is rare.

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