PHILADELPHIA -- Bryce Harper heard the concerns and criticisms about his defense. He heard them throughout the offseason as he and Manny Machado chased record-setting contracts as free agents.

But Harper’s defense has not been a problem this season. Far from it. He threw out Austin Riley at the plate in Wednesday’s loss to the Braves at Citizens Bank Park. It was Harper’s 12th outfield assist this season. He had a career-high 13 in 2013. Harper also has seven Defensive Runs Saved, good for sixth among right fielders and tied for 22nd among all outfielders.

Harper had -26 DRS last season.

According to Baseball Info Solutions, Harper is the 11th player since 2003 to add 30 or more DRS from one season to the next (minimum 500 innings each season).

“Everybody made such a stink about my defense last year,” Harper said. “This year, I took pride in it and really want to get better. My pitchers deserve that, and my team deserves that. I’ll keep trying to get better every year.”

Dickerson sidelined
Corey Dickerson did not start Thursday because of a bruised left foot. It will be a pain management issue going forward. Dickerson has left two games in a little more than a week because of the ailment. He fouled a ball off the foot last week in Cincinnati.

Paul Owens Award winners announced
The Phillies named third baseman Alec Bohm and left-hander Ethan Lindow as recipients of the 2019 Paul Owens Award, presented annually to the organization’s top Minor League player and pitcher.

Bohm, the Phillies' top prospect and No. 34 overall according to MLB Pipeline, batted .305 with 30 doubles, four triples, 21 home runs, 80 RBIs and an .896 OPS in 125 games with Class A Lakewood, Class A Advanced Clearwater and Double-A Reading. Among all Phillies Minor Leaguers (minimum 375 plate appearances), Bohm finished first in on-base percentage (.378), slugging percentage (.518) and OPS. He tied for first in home runs; ranked second in batting average, hits, RBIs and runs scored; tied for second in doubles and tied for fourth in walks. Bohm was the third overall pick in the 2018 Draft.

Lindow, 20, went 5-4 with a 2.52 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 26 games (16 starts) for Lakewood and Clearwater. He held opponents to a .218 batting average and averaged 1.79 walks per nine innings. Among all Phillies Minor League pitchers this year, he posted the lowest ERA (min. 85 innings pitched) and had the fifth-most strikeouts. Lindow was selected in the fifth round of the 2017 Draft.

“We are very excited about the seasons that Alec and Ethan had in 2019,” Phillies assistant general manager Bryan Minniti said in a statement. “Alec’s performance on both sides of the ball across three levels, just one year removed from being selected in the Draft, bodes well for his future impact in Philadelphia. Ethan’s ability to consistently throw strikes and miss bats, as well as his overall competitiveness allowed him to succeed as one of the youngest pitchers at both Lakewood and Clearwater.”