Washington Nationals OF Bryce Harper is the top young prospect in the minor leagues and was the first pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft.
Just 18 years old, Harper made his debut in the 2010 Arizona Fall League and was assigned to Class-A Hagerstown to start this season.
Harper mashed the ball through the first three months of the season, batting .318/.423/.554 with 14 home runs and 46 runs batted in through 72 games in the South Atlantic League. He also stole 19 bases, scored 42 runs and posted a 44:61 BB:K ratio and .977 OPS while playing for the Suns.
Harper was promoted to Double-A Harrisburg on the fourth of July and it's taken him a while to adjust. In 23 July games he hit just .238/.303/.325 for a .628 OPS, but appears to have turned a corner with the bat so far in August.
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo has made comments that it's not Harper's bat that's they key to his progression through the minor leagues, but instead his base running, his base stealing and his defensive play.
Two of those factors were very evident when I was on hand to watch Harper's Harrisburg Senators play the Erie SeaWolves on Saturday night in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Harper air mailed a throw from left field clear over the cutoff man and nearly into his own dugout, had it not been for catcher Derek Norris sliding to cut it off.
He also failed to realize the situation when he grounded out later in the game, slowing down half way up the line, only to realize there was only one out. The play resulted in an easy double play, that Harper may or may not have been able to leg out. He was visibly frustrated with himself afterward.
Still, it was just another example of why the young phenom needs more reps in the minor leagues. Although the talent is there, and there's lots of it, everyone involved will benefit from Harper receiving added seasoning.
Rizzo has also mentioned that he would like Harper to see reps in Triple-A before arriving in the show, and he could be best served by playing close to another full season in the minor leagues. Depending on how he fares in the 2011 Arizona Fall League, Harper may or may not open the season back with Double-A Harrisburg.
A promotion to Triple-A Syracuse will come in due time, but the Nationals have no real reason to push the 18-year-old. 2011 first round pick Anthony Rendon will just be getting his feet wet next season (assuming he signs with the Nationals) and the team has several young prospects working their way towards the show.
Expect Harper to make his debut sometime in 2012, but the real impact should begin as a 20-year-old in 2013. By then he will have had some added time to develop and polish the edges of his game.
With maturity and experience, a young superstar will develop that Washington Nationals fans will be lucky enough to watch play day in and day out for many years to come.
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