The next big thing is human after all.
The roller coaster of hype that is Bryce Harper has unfortunately hit a road block: A .389 batting average and five RBI in 13 spring training games was not good enough to keep the 2010 first-round pick from being sent down to Class A Hagerstown.
It’s never big news when a rookie gets sent down, but in the case of Harper, it is.
Harper, now at the ripe old age of 18, has been on the radar of many fans since he graced Sports Illustrated at 16. Home runs traveling 500 feet in batting practice, 14 home runs as a sophomore in high school and then followed that up with 31 home runs and 98 RBI at the College of Southern Nevada.
Sending the kid down is probably the best thing to do at this point. Rushing a player to “the show” with so much potential has been done so many times that you can’t help but think that this is a precautionary tactic just for the sake of it.
And why not play safe?
Stephen Strasburg, another Nationals first round pick, rocketed through their minor league system and saw minor success in his 12 starts, only to see that derailed by Tommy John surgery.
So, the Nats can afford to wait until Harper is ready.
They are not capable of competing in the National League East until they are fully loaded. Since Strasburg will not be fully recovered until 2012 (no use bringing him back too early), Harper can build on what he has learned so far for another year and when it’s time, he will have one full season of professional baseball under his belt.
In that time, the verdict will be out on Harper. Is the long violent swing condensed and fluid? Can he handle a steady diet of curveball’s and off-speed stuff? Is the attitude that many scouts have reported simmered down, though reports from camp say that he’s as dedicated as anyone they’ve seen.
This club is ripe with young talent.
With the likes of Drew Storen in the bullpen, Danny Espinosa and Ian Desmond shoring up the middle infield and veterans Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth providing a well needed punch to the middle of the line-up, Harper’s return could mean more in a year than his .389 average does right now.
Devon is the founder of The GM’s Perspective
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