It's not often that a baseball player's first hit in Spring Training gets to lead the front page on ESPN.com. But then again, it's also not often that a player gets on the cover of Sports Illustrated before he's old enough to see Juno in theaters without parental accompaniment, so perhaps it's best to stop comparing Nationals #1 pick Bryce Harper to other baseball-playing humans. That said, Harper's early spring training performance is still drawing comparisons to MLB precedents--according to Jayson Stark, A-Rod, Darryl Strawberry and Ken Griffey Jr. are some of the names being thrown around when discussing the 18-year-old's historical comps.
All said, not bad for a guy who only yesterday got his first base hit in a semi-professional ball game.
After going 0-2 with two K's in his Spring debut, Harper had more luck today in his second game. Facing the Mets and pinch-hitting for our old friend Jayson Werth, Harper laced a high 1-0 fastball from NY pitcher Pedro Beato into left field for a single, "That's not an easy ball to get on top of," said Nats manager Jim Riggleman of the Harper knock. "He's shownthat stroke quite a bit, through the fall and in batting practice here.That's a great stroke, to get on top of a high fastball."
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If you're wondering why people consider a relatively routine base hit in a meaningless exhibition game to be actual news, well, you're not alone--so does Bryce Harper. Interviewed about it after the game, Harper seemed somewhat aloof and unimpressed with his marginal accomplishment. "I don't have it...I could care less," said Bryce when asked whether or not he had kept game the game ball. "I was just real happy to get it out of the waytoday." Fair enough.