Bryce Harper
Encyclopedia
Bryce Aron Max Harper is an American professional baseball
outfielder
in the Washington Nationals
organization. Harper was selected by the Nationals with the first overall pick in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft
. He stands at 6 feet 3 inches and weighs 225 lbs.
Harper won the 2010 Golden Spikes Award
.
by the Washington Nationals
, becoming the Nationals second straight number one overall pick of the Major League Baseball Draft, following Stephen Strasburg
. Although Harper had predominantly played catcher, the Nationals drafted him as an outfielder to extend his career and to get him into the major leagues quicker.
Harper signed a 5-year contract worth $9.9 million, and on August 26, 2010, Harper was introduced by the Nationals. Harper said he chose to wear #34 because "I always loved Mickey Mantle
, three and four equals seven."
After batting .319 with a .407 OBP (and leading his team in hits, homers, RBI and walks) in the Nationals' fall instructional league, Harper was selected to participate in the Arizona Fall League
as a member of the Scottsdale Scorpions
taxi-squad, the second-youngest player in the history of the league (two days older than when Mets' prospect Fernando Martínez
appeared in the league in 2006) He batted .343 and slugged .629. On November 20, Harper and the Scottsdale Scorpions won the 2010 Arizona Fall League
Championship.
After batting .389 in spring training, the Nationals optioned Harper to Class-A Hagerstown
to begin his minor league career. In April 2011, after a slow start in the minor leagues, Harper visited optometrist Dr. Keith Smithson who reportedly told him, "I don't know how you ever hit before. You have some of the worst eyes I've ever seen." In his first 20 games after receiving contact lenses, Harper hit .480, collecting 7 home runs, 10 doubles and 23 RBI.
Harper was selected to represent the United States in the 2011 Futures Game during the 2011 All Star Game weekend. He was promoted to the Double-A Harrisburg Senators
on July 4. Harper went 2 for 3 in his AA debut with two singles and a walk.
On August 18, 2011, Harper injured his hamstring
while running from first to third base on an extra base hit. The injury was severe enough that he had to be carried off the field by his coaches. Harper was placed on the 7-day disabled list
, and it was reported that the injury had ended Harper's season.
for College of Southern Nevada with Bryce. Bryan now plays for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, back to back winners of the 2010 and 2011 College World Series. Bryan was also selected in the 2010 MLB Draft, by the Chicago Cubs
. He did not sign and then was drafted in the 2011 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals.
Harper was featured in an episode of ESPN E:60
and was on the cover of Sports Illustrated
in May 2009.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
organization. Harper was selected by the Nationals with the first overall pick in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft
2010 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held on June 7–9, 2010 at the MLB Network Studios in New York City.-First-round selections:The draft order was determined based on the 2009 MLB standings, with the worst team picking first.Key...
. He stands at 6 feet 3 inches and weighs 225 lbs.
Harper won the 2010 Golden Spikes Award
Golden Spikes Award
The Golden Spikes Award is awarded annually to the best amateur baseball player. It is awarded by USA Baseball and sponsored by the Major League Baseball Players Association. Though the award can be presented to any amateur player, it has always been given to a college baseball player.-Past...
.
Professional career
Harper was drafted first in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft2010 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held on June 7–9, 2010 at the MLB Network Studios in New York City.-First-round selections:The draft order was determined based on the 2009 MLB standings, with the worst team picking first.Key...
by the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
, becoming the Nationals second straight number one overall pick of the Major League Baseball Draft, following Stephen Strasburg
Stephen Strasburg
Stephen James Strasburg is a right-handed pitcher for the Washington Nationals, who selected him with the first pick in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft...
. Although Harper had predominantly played catcher, the Nationals drafted him as an outfielder to extend his career and to get him into the major leagues quicker.
Harper signed a 5-year contract worth $9.9 million, and on August 26, 2010, Harper was introduced by the Nationals. Harper said he chose to wear #34 because "I always loved Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle
Mickey Charles Mantle was an American professional baseball player. Mantle is regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time, and one of the greatest players in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.Mantle was noted for his hitting...
, three and four equals seven."
After batting .319 with a .407 OBP (and leading his team in hits, homers, RBI and walks) in the Nationals' fall instructional league, Harper was selected to participate in the Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...
as a member of the Scottsdale Scorpions
Scottsdale Scorpions
The Scottsdale Scorpions are a baseball team that plays in the East Division of the Arizona Fall League located in Scottsdale, Arizona. They play their home games at Scottsdale Stadium....
taxi-squad, the second-youngest player in the history of the league (two days older than when Mets' prospect Fernando Martínez
Fernando Martínez (baseball)
Jesús Fernando Martínez Álvarez is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder. He is a current Free agent, and last played for the orginization o fht eNew York Mets appearing several times in the majors, in center-field.-Career:...
appeared in the league in 2006) He batted .343 and slugged .629. On November 20, Harper and the Scottsdale Scorpions won the 2010 Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...
Championship.
After batting .389 in spring training, the Nationals optioned Harper to Class-A Hagerstown
Hagerstown Suns
The Hagerstown Suns are a Minor League Baseball team based in Hagerstown, Maryland, United States. They play in Municipal Stadium, which was opened in 1930 and seats 4,600 fans....
to begin his minor league career. In April 2011, after a slow start in the minor leagues, Harper visited optometrist Dr. Keith Smithson who reportedly told him, "I don't know how you ever hit before. You have some of the worst eyes I've ever seen." In his first 20 games after receiving contact lenses, Harper hit .480, collecting 7 home runs, 10 doubles and 23 RBI.
Harper was selected to represent the United States in the 2011 Futures Game during the 2011 All Star Game weekend. He was promoted to the Double-A Harrisburg Senators
Harrisburg Senators
The Harrisburg Senators are a minor league baseball team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals....
on July 4. Harper went 2 for 3 in his AA debut with two singles and a walk.
On August 18, 2011, Harper injured his hamstring
Hamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
while running from first to third base on an extra base hit. The injury was severe enough that he had to be carried off the field by his coaches. Harper was placed on the 7-day disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
, and it was reported that the injury had ended Harper's season.
Career accomplishments
- 2010 AFLArizona Fall LeagueThe Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...
Champion - 2010 MLB Draft: Number 1 Overall Pick by The Washington NationalsWashington NationalsThe Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
- 2010 Golden Spikes AwardGolden Spikes AwardThe Golden Spikes Award is awarded annually to the best amateur baseball player. It is awarded by USA Baseball and sponsored by the Major League Baseball Players Association. Though the award can be presented to any amateur player, it has always been given to a college baseball player.-Past...
- 2010 SWACScenic West Athletic ConferenceThe Scenic West Athletic Conference is a sports association for junior colleges located in Idaho, Utah, Colorado, and Nevada...
Player of the Year. - 2009 Baseball AmericaBaseball AmericaBaseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
High School Player of the Year - 2009 Babe Ruth Award (Longest HR in International Power Showcase HS Home Run Derby (Tropicana FieldTropicana FieldTropicana Field is a domed stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida, which has been the home of Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Rays since the team's inaugural season in 1998, when they were the Devil Rays. It has also served as the host stadium for the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl, an NCAA-sanctioned college...
Record: 502 feet) - 2008 1st Team All Sunrise Division Catcher
- 2008 1st Team All State Catcher
- 2008 Player of the Year North-East Division
- 2008 Batting Average Leader for the state of Nevada
- 2008 All World Team
- 2008 All Area Code Team
- 2007 TBS 14u All American Team
- 2007 TBS 14u Player of the Year
- 2006 TBS 13u All American Team
- 2005 TBS 12u All American Team
- 2005 NYB All American Team
Personal life
Harper's older brother, Bryan, was a left-handed pitcherPitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for College of Southern Nevada with Bryce. Bryan now plays for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, back to back winners of the 2010 and 2011 College World Series. Bryan was also selected in the 2010 MLB Draft, by the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. He did not sign and then was drafted in the 2011 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals.
Harper was featured in an episode of ESPN E:60
E:60
E:60 is a weekly investigative journalism newsmagazine show. It premiered on ESPN on October 16, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. ET, 4:00 p.m. PT. The show is one hour long....
and was on the cover of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
in May 2009.
External links
- Bryce Harper's College Statistics
- Las Vegas ‘prodigy’ makes Sports Illustrated cover
- SI cover boy leaving high school after two years
- Prodigy Harper Handles the Pressure
- Harper Faces Questions About Attitude, Not Ability
- Washington Post Archives
- The Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/22/AR2011022206658.html
- The Washington Post: Nationals Journal http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nationalsjournal/2011/02/bryce_harper_im_trying_to_make.html