The Prodigal Son: Bryce Harper's Debut

As my pre-season prediction alluded to, the Nationals have emerged to be one of my favorite teams over the last couple years. I have always been a pitching>hitting type of fan and I had high hopes for the Nats coming into the season after they added Gio Gonzalez and Edwin Jackson to a pitching staff that already featured stud pitchers Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmerman.

However even given these high hopes, there is no way I could have predicted the Nationals pitching staff would be averaging a sub-2.00 ERA through 20 games. Overall the team has been sensational to watch and heading into tonight they were tied for the NL lead with a 14-6 record. Despite this record and the fact they play in a great market, the fan base still isn't as energized as it should be because the Nats are still only 19th in attendance (The Washington Capitals being in the playoffs has not helped).

In a move that was partially driven by the fan base, the Nats called up uber-prospect Bryce Harper for his Major League Debut tonight. This move was also driven a lot by the lack of success seen by the Nats hitters this season. They currently sit at a less than stellar 11th in the NL in runs scored and that was before star hitter Ryan Zimmerman went down injured. With the call up, Nats management hope that Harper could be the spark plug that could jump start the offense until Zimmerman and fellow masher Michael Morse return to the lineup.



The build up to Harper's debut has been immense because scouts have been describing his light-tower power and cannon arm since he was at an age when I still thought it was cool to TP houses. However expectations should have been somewhat tempered for tonight since he is still just 19 years old and he had hit a paltry .250/.333/.375 in AAA this year.

But even as I did my best to temper expectations for Harper, I couldn’t help but expect great things tonight, and sure enough, Harper obliged me in his debut. In his first two at bats, Harper was able to get the bat on the ball but nothing more, starting the game 0 for 2. During these first few innings, fellow superstar-in-waiting Stephen Strasburg was flashing the talent that showed why the "in-waiting" should probably be removed from this sentence.

Going into the top of the 7th, the score was knotted up at 0's and the camera panned to Harper putting on his batting gloves in the dugout as the announcers explained he was due up 4th in the inning and was showing his faith in the Nats offense to deliver and get him up to bat that inning. This faith was quickly rewarded with Adam LaRoche launching a leadoff solo homerun, ensuring Harper would get his chance. The next two batters would go down and then Harper would make his way to the batter's box.

In perhaps a major league first for a debuting player, Harper entered the batter box to boos, confirming the fact that Harper's skills and aggressive attitude preceded him. After working the count to two strikes, Chad Billingsley tried to work a changeup by Harper that he lined off a hard foul. On the next pitch Billingsley threw a fastball and everything we as fans had been told was flashed before our eyes, as Harper scalded the pitch 380+ feet to centerfield for a double for his first career hit.

Harper wouldn't score in the inning but the magic surrounding his talent had already been all but confirmed. The bottom of the 7th saw the Dodgers tie the score but not for a lack of Harper trying. The Dodgers got their run in the 7th on a Andy Ellis drive to left. Harper caught the ball on a bounce and launched the type of perfect strike from the outfield that could make fellow outfield mate Rick Ankiel's highlight reel but unfortunately Nats catcher Wilson Ramos dropped the ball and Jerry Hairston, Jr. (editor's note: Naperville Pride!) scored.


Now enter the classic Disney script with Harper coming to bat in the top of the 9th with a tie score and men on 2nd and 3rd. Rather than let the suspense build up further, Harper blasted the first pitch to left field getting his first career RBI on a sacrifice, and more importantly, giving the Nats the potential game winning run. In a bit of irony, the game did have a Hollywood ending but that ending was both literal and figurative as the Hollywood team, the LA Dodgers, came back and won in the bottom of the 10th. The Dodgers won on a walkoff solo homerun by the man that is unarguably the best player in baseball right now, Matt Kemp.

Kemp celebrated his victory by running around the bases to chants of M-V-P, a moment he surely savored as he had just helped that Dodgers pass the Nats for the best record in the NL. While this celebration went on, the future of baseball walked back to his dugout still missing his first career win but having flashed the skills that have led to his hype. There is no telling where the Nats and Harper are going from here, and of course I am tempering my expectations, but let's just say I wouldn't be surprised to see Harper in Kemp's position in the near future.