The Harper

Chelsea Janes paints a picture of a very complicated Bryce Harper as he starts what might be his final season with the Nationals:

Meanwhile, a man will sit in the middle of it all, balancing the need to perform with the reality of the biggest decision he has ever gotten to make. The swirl of attention that has always followed him will only swirl faster, and he won’t be able to escape it.

Bryce Harper is financially secure for life. He is married with a healthy family. He gets all the perks of fame, showered in gifts and free meals from those who endorse him and those who hope to endorse him. But for all the bravado some see in him still, Harper is also human. This season, and all that comes with it, will test him.

“I think the thing that surprises you is that while he embraces the spotlight he gets, it may not be what he wants. He just wants to play baseball,” catcher Matt Wieters said. “.?.?. That’s the big surprise. From the outside, he looks like a guy who wants all the attention and wants everything. He deals with it because he has to, because he has that kind of talent.”

Harper enters his prime this season. The next five years likely decide his Hall of Fame status. He is surrounded by great players, which should give him plenty of opportunities to wow us with runs, RBI, and even a ton of walks. Can he hit 200 homers, score and drive in 600 runs in the next five seasons? That would be impressive.

from baseballmusings.com https://ift.tt/2GYPzYR