June 7, 2010 was a historic day for the Washington Nationals franchise. If you can remember back to where you were, you might remember this famous date in team history. Now, 15 years later, we can reminisce on Bryce Harper being selected first overall in the 2010 MLB Draft by the team he once thought he would never leave. This draft served as a pivotal turning point that helped reshape the franchise as a whole, joining fellow #1 pick Stephen Strasburg who was drafted the year before.
Just 17 years old at the time, Harper was MLB's version of Lebron James. After gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated at just 16-years-old and the legendary stories of him hitting 500 foot homers, the hype for Harper's eventual arrival in the big leagues was extreme. With all of the expectations set for him to be the one of the best baseball players ever. His arrival in D.C. signaled the Nationals' rebirth from years of irrelevance into a new era of National media attention and expectations.
Harper made his MLB debut in 2012 sparking excitement with his ability to be a 5 tool player along with his ability to be marketed as a major superstar due to his big personality. That year, he won the NL Rookie of the Year and led the Nationals alongside veteran Ryan Zimmerman to their first-ever NL East title. This put the league on notice as the Nationals became true contenders.
Harper’s biggest individual season with the Nats came in 2015, when he won the NL MVP at 22-years-old, becoming the youngest player in history to win the award unanimously. This showcased that it wasn't just hype and that the star power he possessed was on the field as well. That made him not only the face of the Nationals, but arguably the face of the entire MLB.
Off the field, Harper was just as impactful as he was on it, helping to grow the Nationals’ brand exponentially, boosting ticket sales, TV ratings, and national visibility. His presence turned DC into a true baseball town, which was something the front office had been waiting for since the move from Montreal. The team finally had a true identity and it was all led by Harper.
However, Harper's time in Washington did not see much postseason success. He was unable to advance past the NLDS despite being apart of numerous great teams. After seven seasons, Harper decided to leave Washington for a division rival in the Philadelphia Phillies, which drew mixed reactions from Nationals fans, to say the least.
On the one hand, it's easy to be happy that Harper got his contract he deserved, but on the other, it was sad to see him leave, especially for a hated division rival. In Harper's final year with the team, he would share the outfield with another generational talent, Juan Soto, who led the Nationals to their first World Series the next year, adding a bittersweet twist to Harper's overall legacy with the Nationals.
Fifteen years after being drafted, Harper’s impact on the Nationals remains complex but profound. While he didn’t win a title in Washington, he was part of a group of core guys that helped to build the foundation for one. His impact is still seen today, as the Nationals constantly breed young and talented players that are the focal point of their teams. We see this today with guys such as James Wood, and CJ Abrams. All in all with all the ups and downs Harper will forever be considered the guy that put D.C. on the map.