Bryan Harper
On top of being an extraordinary baseball player, Harper is a huge family man. He attributes his success to his supportive parents, especially his father who has always helped him practice. He also recently married his longtime girlfriend.
In addition to being close with his parents and wife, Harper is very close with his brother, Bryan Harper. They are brothers right now, but their relationship could soon acquire another title: teammates.
Bryan Harper, who is older than Bryce by three years, is a left-handed reliever in the Nats’ organization. He did not pitch in 2017, due to his ongoing recovery from Tommy John Surgery, but pitched very well in 2016. He has not yet reached the majors, but is knocking on the door.
This spring, Bryan Harper earned his first invite to major league camp. Although he is unlikely to break camp with the team, a strong spring could put him on the short list to earn a promotion in the event of an injury.
If Bryan Harper were to pitch for the Nats, it would give Bryce the amazing opportunity of playing with his brother. Bryce has made it clear that this is something he wants, but it could finally come to fruition in 2018.
Assuming he remains healthy, Bryan Harper should at least earn a September call-up. We have no way of knowing exactly how much this means to Bryce, but perhaps the prospect of playing with his brother will help keep him in DC long-term.