The Washington Nationals have pushed the Major League career of Bryce Harper to fast forward today. It was announced that he will be called up and should make his first start against the Dodgers tomorrow. Harper was the subject of one of my first posts last year.
Harper was only twenty games into his second minor league season when he got the call up. While playing for the Nationals Triple A team Syracuse Chiefs he hit .250/.333/.375 with 1 HR, 3 RBI, 8 R, 1 SB in those 20 games. In 2011 he split the season between Class A Hagertown Suns and Double A Harrisburg Senators while hitting .318/.423/.554 with 14 HR, 46 RBI, 49 R, 19 SB in 72 games at Class A and hit .256/.329/.395 with 3 HR, 12 RBI, 14 R, 7 SB in 37 games at Double A.
The call up happens as Ryan Zimmerman goes on the DL. The quote from Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo was "We thought that we needed to bring in an impactful left-handed bat" although Zimmerman bats right. The side of the plate really doesn't matter so much as filling in for Zimmerman's imposing presence in the Nationals line up. Although Zimmerman was off to a slow start this season hitting .224/.324/.345 with 1 HR, 7 RBI, 10 R, 1 SB in 15 games his history at the plate shows he wouldn't be down for long. The Nationals are gambling that Harper is ready to contribute and fuel their hot start as they lead the NL East with a 14-5 record.
His first game against the Dodgers will offer the first glimpse as to whether he can live up to the hype. He has so much more back story than just being the first selection over all by the Nationals in 2010. Yet having his Major League debut at the age of 19 will be a good start. Harper will turn 20 on October 16.
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