Bryce Harper shaved his beard mainly as a way to break out of a slump he was experiencing in his baseball performance. Baseball players are often superstitious and make changes to their appearance, such as shaving a beard or cutting hair, in hopes of changing their luck and improving their play. Harper has done this before during a performance slump, notably in 2018 when he was with the Washington Nationals and again in 2023 with the Philadelphia Phillies after a hitting slump. The beard shave is seen more as a slumpbuster or fresh start rather than an indicator of other motivations like changing teams, despite some speculation linking it to potential moves to teams like the New York Yankees. Additionally, there were simpler practical reasons sometimes suggested, like wanting a fresh look for the summer or responding to his wife's suggestion for a trim.