Reliever Kyle Backhus hopes to make good on Bryce Harper's text message

Reliever Kyle Backhus hopes to make good on Bryce Harper's text message

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Kyle Backhus remembers being on a Facetime call with his Arizona Diamondbacks pitching coaches in December. It was great call, he said. They talked about his 2025 season and went over a throwing and conditioning routine for the winter. Backhus came away from the call feeling enthused, like he was in the D-backs’ plans for 2026. The next day, another call. He’d been traded to the Phillies. “It blew me away,” he said.  Word is i…