Washington Nationals Riding Success of their ‘Big Three’
By Matt Weyrich
May 24, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) hits a single against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
The Power Hitter
Who: No. 34, Bryce Harper
The Numbers: .331 AVG, .467 OBP, .734 SLG, 51 H, 9 2B, 1 3B, 17 HR, 42 RBIs, 40 R, 40 BB, 44 SO, 2 SB, 4.1 WAR
Best Performance: 05/06 vs MIA → 3-4, 3 HRs, 5 RBIs, 3 R
Rankings**: AVG (4th), OBP (1st), SLG (1st), HR (1st), R (1st), RBI (T-1st), BB (1st), WAR (1st)
The Story: At 22-years old, Bryce Harper already has three major league seasons under his belt, yet has never faced a pitcher younger than him. That’s a scary thought. Harper has been on an absolute tear to start the season, propelling him to the front of MVP discussions and bringing him to national attention. In addition, it has revitalized the Harper vs. Trout debate. In a lineup that has some of its key members battle serious injuries, the Nats’ right fielder has provided patience, power, and consistency from the cleanup spot.
Now the Mike Trout comparisons may be a little impetuous, as Trout is a proven MVP-caliber player who has far and away outperformed Harper over the course of their careers. However, if this truly is Harper’s breakout season into all that he was hyped up to be back when he made the cover of Sports Illustrated at age 16, then we really are in for a show. His pure talent truly makes him one of the most complete five-tool players in all of baseball. With him in the lineup and an ace like Scherzer taking the mound every fifth day, the Nationals look as if they could stack up against anyone. Yet there seems to be one more piece missing…
**Among qualified National League hitters
Next: The Closer