Gender Of Bryce Harper's Baby Revealed With Mid-Game Trick

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Moments before Bryce Harper stepped into the batter's box Monday night, he found out the gender of his next baby.

That's because the special bat handed to him moments before by Trea Turner was baby blue, not bright pink.

It's the latest twist on the "gender reveal" trend that has seen people around the country form sometimes endearing, sometimes hilarious, sometimes catastrophic new ways to reveal the gender of a forthcoming child to one or both parents.

“I was confused at first," Turner told MLB.com after the game. "But I think he wanted to share that moment with us. I think it was pretty cool."

Harper struck out in the gender reveal at-bat. It's not clear what Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long thinks about introducing critical details of a major life event seconds before stepping into the batter's box. But Harper, one of the greatest hitters on the planet and a future Hall of Famer, has likely earned himself some leeway.

"(Harper is) a pretty creative guy," Turner added. "He let us know in our team meeting. He kind of wanted to share the moment with everybody. He was nice enough to ask me to do it. I thought it was a nice moment for him and his family. I think they were all watching here from up top.”

Harper has repeatedly said over the years that he and his wife Kayla chose Philadelphia in part because they decided it was a good place to raise their growing family. The Harpers have three other children: Krew, Brooklyn, and Kamryn.

The Phillies lost the game to the San Francisco Giants, 10-4. They're back on the diamond at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday night for the second game in the four-game set with a hot San Francisco team.