Bryce Harper
Harper’s home run put him in the record books as the first player
in major league history since 1920 to register five home runs, yes
five, on Opening Day before he turned 25 years old. Since going
pro in 2012, he hit two home runs in 2013 against the Marlins.
He also hit Opening Day home runs in 2015 and 2016. And now
with the new season in 2017, Harper is the first player in the
Nats franchise history to accomplish this feat. He wears uniform
number 34 (3 plus 4), a tribute to his hero — the late and great
New York Yankee Mickey Mantle, who wore #7.
This is terrific news for the legions of fans and followers of this
very talented right fielder who is coming off a disappointing
season in 2016 when he hit just a .243 batting average with 24
home runs and 86 RBI. Quite a head turner from the career-high
totals the year before in 2015 with 42 home runs, 99 RBI and a
batting average of .330.
For the seasoned or casual baseball afficionado, Harper’s
comeback perhaps puts to bed the talk and rumors of a
suspected injury. It can signal the return of a great player as he
enters his sixth season with the Nats.
Billowing in the background is the fact that Harper is eligible for
free agency at the end of the 2018 season. It can’t be avoided
to take notice that at that time Harper can be awarded one
of the largest Major League Baseball (MLB) contracts in its
history. Giancarlo Stanton, right fielder with the Miami Marlins,
is the current record holder at $325 million. He inked a 13-year
contract extension in 2014. Alex Rodriguez holds the second
largest contract of $275 million in 2008, which he signed with
the New York Yankees.
Where the contract situation goes in the future is all speculation
for right now, but one thing for sure, life is good for Bryce
Harper. During the off-season in December 2016, he married his
longtime girlfriend and high school sweetheart Kayla Varner at
the majestic white San Diego California Temple. He speaks openly
about his Mormon faith and is an active member of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Harper’s had exposure on the cover of Sports Illustrated in
2009 and was featured in ESPN’s The Magazine 2015 Body Issue,
showing a bit of his 6’ 3” perfect form.
Harper believes in hard work and playing the game with all he’s
got. He credits his father, Ron, an ironworker in Las Vegas, for
instilling a strong work ethic. It’s something his older brother,
Bryan Harper, has emulated as well. He is also in the Washington
Nationals organization as a pitcher for the Class-AAA Syracuse
Chiefs. The brothers are best friends and speak to each other by
phone on a regular basis. Their mother Sheri and sister Brittany
Harper-Peterson are their biggest fans.
SUMMER 2017
7 FLYWASHINGTON.COM