Bryce Harper

Bryce Aron Max Harper, born October 16, 1992, in Las Vegas, Nevada is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Washington Nationals organization. Harper was selected by the Nationals with the first overall pick in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft. He stands at 6 feet 3 inches and weighs 225 lbs.
Harper won the 2010 Golden Spikes Award, awarded annually to the best amateur baseball player.

Harper was drafted first in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft by the Washington Nationals,becoming the Nationals second straight number one overall pick of the Major League Baseball Draft, following Stephen Strasburg. Although Harper had predominantly played catcher, the Nationals drafted him as an outfielder to extend his career and to get him into the major leagues quicker.
Harper signed a 5-year contract worth $9.9 million, and on August 26, 2010, Harper was introduced by the Nationals. Harper said he chose to wear #34 because "I always loved Mickey Mantle, three and four equals seven.
After batting .319 with a .407 OBP (and leading his team in hits, homers, RBI and walks) in the Nationals' fall instructional league, Harper was selected to participate in the Arizona Fall League as a member of the Scottsdale Scorpions taxi-squad, the second-youngest player in the history of the league (two days older than when Mets' prospect Fernando Martínez appeared in the league in 2006 He batted .343 and slugged .629. On November 20, Harper and the Scottsdale Scorpions won the 2010 Arizona Fall League Championship.
After batting .389 in spring training, the Nationals optioned Harper to Class-A Hagerstown to begin his minor league career. In April 2011, after a slow start in the minor leagues, Harper visited optometrist Dr. Keith Smithson who reportedly told him, "I don't know how you ever hit before. You have some of the worst eyes I've ever seen." In his first 20 games after receiving contact lenses, Harper hit .480, collecting 7 home runs, 10 doubles and 23 RBI.
Harper was selected to represent the United States in the 2011 Futures Game during the 2011 All Star Game weekend. He was promoted to the Double-A Harrisburg Senators on July 4. Harper went 2 for 3 in his AA debut with two singles and a walk.
On August 18, 2011, Harper injured his hamstring while running from first to third base on an extra base hit. The injury was severe enough that he had to be carried off the field by his coaches. Harper was placed on the 7-day disabled list, and it was reported that the injury had ended Harper's season.
On March 18th Harper was optioned to AAA Syracuse, where he will start the season and play centerfield.
On April 27, 2012, Harper was called up to the Washington Nationals as Ryan Zimmerman was placed on the DL.


Career accomplishments


2010 AFL Champion
2010 MLB Draft: Number 1 Overall Pick by The Washington Nationals
2010 Golden Spikes Award
2010 SWAC Player of the Year.

2009 Baseball America High School Player of the Year
2009 Babe Ruth Award (Longest HR in International Power Showcase HS Home Run Derby (Tropicana Field Record: 502 feet)
2008 1st Team All Sunrise Division Catcher
2008 1st Team All State Catcher
2008 Player of the Year North-East Division
2008 Batting Average Leader for the state of Nevada
2008 All World Team
2008 All Area Code Team
2007 TBS 14u All American Team
2007 TBS 14u Player of the Year
2006 TBS 13u All American Team
2005 TBS 12u All American Team
2005 NYB All American Team


Personal life


Harper's older brother, Bryan, was a left-handed pitcher for College of Southern Nevada with Bryce. Bryan now plays for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, back to back winners of the 2010 and 2011 College World Series. Bryan was also selected in the 2010 MLB Draft, by the Chicago Cubs. He did not sign and then was drafted in the 2011 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals.
Harper was featured in an episode of ESPN E:60 and was on the cover of Sports Illustrated in May 2009.