What have they done with Bryce Harper?
What happened to the kid with the enthusiasm and edge we fell in love with when he was introduced as the Washington Nationals’ No. 1 pick last August?
What happened to the kid who blew kisses to the opposing pitcher after homering against him with Single-A Hagerstown earlier this year?
Where is Bryce Harper? The 18-year-old who sat in the visitor’s dugout Monday night at Prince George’s Stadium, where the Double-A Harrisburg Senators were facing the Bowie Baysox, sure didn’t seem like the same kid.
Bowie is as close to Nationals Park as Harper is likely going to get this season. Any thoughts about being just a hop, skip and a jump down Route 50 from the major league club?
“I’m just coming out here and playing another game … trying to have fun and try to win a ball game … try to get to first place and stay there and win some ball games,” Harper said.
They shaved the mohawk right off this kid.
What about the prospects of spending the rest of the season in Harrisburg? After all, he was bored in Hagerstown.
“Harrisburg is a great town. It’s a great city. … It’s an exciting time to be here,” Harper said. “We got a great team out here, great club, great guys around me. A lot of good guys who can really play. Being here all year, I’m really excited about it.”
Maybe the Harrisburg ballpark is too close to Three Mile Island.
Something’s different.
Maybe it’s just that he’s a teenager in July of his first professional baseball season.
No.
“It’s just another game, another day at the park. … I’m just trying to have some fun out there,” he said.
Maybe it’s just the pressure of a .208 batting average with no home runs in 16 games with Harrisburg entering Monday night after batting .318 with 14 home runs in 72 games in Hagerstown.
No.
“I’m just trying to go out there and hit the ball hard, and that’s what I’ve been doing: hitting the ball hard every time,” Harper said. “I’m still having a lot of fun out there and still winning some ball games, and I feel good.”
Maybe it was because it was Jayson Werth bobblehead night at Prince George’s Stadium. That kind of unnerved me as well.
Maybe it’s just the pressure of being Bryce Harper.
No.
“I ain’t got no pressure,” Harper said. “There is no pressure at all,” Harper said. “I am just going out there playing my game, the game I know how to play. We are close to Nationals Park, close to D.C., but it would be a lot more pressure if I were playing for the Nationals right now.”
It would be for Bryce Harper — wherever he is.
Examiner columnist Thom Loverro is the co-host of “The Sports Fix” from noon to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on ESPN980 and espn980.com. Contact him at [email protected].
