Bryce Harper showed up in NLDS
By Ryan Ritchey
The phenom from three years ago, Bryce Harper, played in the least amount of games he has played since making the Major Leagues,100, but when it came time for the 2014 playoffs he showed up in a big way. In such a short series, you can’t expect a player to hit .600, but Harper found a way to be productive in an offense that really didn’t show up. He had an on-base percentage of .368 and he slugged over .880 for the series, with help from three total homers, two of which coming off of San Francisco reliever Hunter Strickland.
More from Nationals News
- Latest DraftKings Sportsbook Promo Code in Maryland: Bet $5, Win $200 Guaranteed
- Nationals Claim Jeter Downs Off Waivers
- Washington Nationals Tuesday Q&A
- A Washington Nationals Christmas Wishlist
- Robots in Baseball? The Possibility of an Automated Ball/Strike System in the MLB
He has been victimized as being cocky, and said to not have respect for the game because of the way he plays, but one thing he proved in this series was that he can perform on the big stage.
In his first postseason he struggled at the plate, striking out eight times in 23 at-bats. This postseason he showed maturity coming up in a big spot, as the tying run in the top of the ninth and drawing a walk with two outs against a tough closer. He showed maturity throughout the series and poise proving that he belonged in the moment.
After this postseason, the only place for Harper to go is up. He had a resurgence at the plate, laying off tough pitches, driving the ball the other way to drive in a run, and hitting towering home runs on pitches thrown 95+. That will all lead into next season, as he gets another offseason to become healthy after a thumb injury.
The main thing for Bryce Harper was to show that he belongs and he did that in this series. He proved that he could compete on one of the biggest stages the game has to offer and it will lead into next season. Health will play a big role in Harper’s future, but when he is on the field, he gives it everything he has and produces when it matters.