BRYCE HARPER - PHENOM

Dboneesq

I was just playing around on the Internet and came across the name Bryce Harper. Some of you guys have probably heard of this kid, but I never did. He is just 17 years old and most likely will be the #1 pick in this year's baseball draft. From everything I have read, it seems like the hype over Strasburg will be calm compared to what it will be like with Harper. Google his name and read some of the articles ... he is a catcher who can throw 96 MPH ... a great hitter and fast as hell. Very Interesting.

msassin

I can't imagine the hype over Strasburg being calm compared to Harper. Barring an injury, Strasburg was a lock to be the number one pick in the draft before his final season of college ever began.

baseballfan

i have recently been following him, his mother works for a lawyer i know in vegas. seems to be unbelievable prospect. just got thrown out of a game for his juco team in the playoffs for arguing ball and strikes. seems to be a player that has always been good and better then other players and is used to getting his way. tough to believe a 17 year old arguing balls and strikes, he apparently drew a line with the bat where he thought the pitch was. i believe he dropped out of high school and got his GED to go to juco because the high school pitcher were not pitching to him.

i wish him well, he should be the #1 pick on monday

he supposedly hits the ball a long way and plays several positions, i am wonderign where the pros will play him

Dboneesq

Harper is only 17 ... and they say he will be the #1 pick this year.

I must also add that I guess I am late to the "Bryce Harper" bandwagon, as there were four cards of his that sold for more than $500.00 recently on eBay. LOL

EDITED TO ADD: You are right Fred ... right now is classmates are only JUNIORS in HIGH SCHOOL!!!!!!!!

baseballfan

sport Ill compared this kid to lebron and gretzky as a prodigy in the sport, way ahead of everyone else at his age

Walt

wasn't Toe Nash 17 when he was "great"?

fuj

<< <i>i believe he dropped out of high school and got his GED to go to juco because the high school pitcher were not pitching to him. >>



Actually he dropped out of high school to take advantage of some sort of loophole that would allow him to be drafted this year instead of next year. Don't remember the exact details of why that is allowed.

If you google his name, you can read the SI article from last summer which made him out to be the LeBron James of baseball.

corvette1340

I'm taking preorders for the first Bryce Harper auto'd cards. Bidding starts at $2500.

edit: lol, just searched for him on ebay and there are already a ton of auto'd cards of this 17 year old. I'm gonna search for the best 10 year old player in America and get him to sign a bunch of cards and then I'm gonna make cut cards of him and hand number them.

DavidPuddy

He hit .443 with 31 home runs, 98 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 66 games for his JuCo team this season.

TomGshotput

Even made the cover of Sports Illustrated a year ago

Local player, so I have to support him. But Metal bats and 17-years-old. I'll take the 22-year-old who's already been doing well at the professional level

Strasburg would have likely been the number one pick if they were in the same draft, I might take Harper in actually having more hype his first year. Fans love homeruns. Curious to see what signing bonus comes his way.

DavidPuddy

From the ESPN article.
"Harper, 17, swung a Marucci maple bat for the College of Southern Nevada this season, then swapped it for a black DeMarini aluminum model once the Coyotes arrived at the Junior College World Series in Colorado."

Those stats came with a wood bat!!

Goot

<< <i>He hit .443 with 31 home runs, 98 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 66 games for his JuCo team this season. >>




A few week or so ago he went 6-6 with 4 HRs and 10 RBI in the game that got his team to the JuCo WS.


And yeah, all of these came with Wood bats. That's part of the reason he chose the school he did.

fkw

Strasburg wasnt even drafted out of HS, he was a late bloomer.

Harper left HS 2 years early to play in a woodbat JC League so he will be drafted earlier (why waist 2 years playing HS ball with kids).... he is that good!!

You cant compare a pitcher to a catcher, but they are both going to be great players barring injury.

I actually heard of Harper 2 years before I ever heard of Strasburg, and he is 4 years younger.

PS. Those 31 HRs in 66 games this years were all with a Wooden Bat, and playing against guys 2-4 years older than him.

TomGshotput

Cool to hear he wasn't using metal bats

for those of us who understand that things that aren't completely identical can be compared, it can be good to watch and see how they do over the upcoming years

ShoeboxTom

I sent this 2008 Topps retro 1975 card to PSA to have it graded, but they

refused to grade it because they said it was unknown(??????). So I am

currently reselling it on ebay with a lot of interest. The only other guy that

is selling this card is the guy I bought it from. Maybe he made them down

in his basement.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180513590399&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Goot

Here's some more background. It's a 10 minute story that ESPN did last fall.


ESPN

DavidPuddy

Make your own Topps Cards.

ShoeboxTom

DavidPuddy you think thats what this guy did made his own Bryce Harper cards?

Because he is making some nice pocket change on ebay check it out:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1975-Topps-Retro-BRYCE-HARPER-RC-EXTREMELY-RARE-/360268953460?cmd=ViewItem&pt=US_Baseball&hash=item53e1b3f774

Card definitely had a weird feel to it after I bought it. I thought it was a Topps insert or something like that.

DavidPuddy

<< <i>DavidPuddy you think thats what this guy did made his own Bryce Harper cards? >>




Absolutely, without a doubt.

burke23

I believe Jon Sickels of baseball america called him the best power hitting prospect ever. Yes - he is that legit. He was 15 when this was made I believe - check out what he did
here in this HR derby.

JHS5120

Don't any of you guys get Sports Illustrated? He was on the cover a year ago.

They said that if he was eligible he would have been picked before Strasburg... easily.

markj111

Harper has been a hot topic among scouts for a couple of years. He has all the tools, but by virtually all accounts is a complete a**hole. One scout said he has an unbelieveable sense of entitlement. He showed up an ump in the JUCO tournament and was suspended for two games (automatic as it was his 2nd ejection of the year). Of course, if he is as good as advertised I'll take him as long as he is not Milton Bradley or Elijah Dukes crazy.

From Google:

The Makeup: This should not be underrated. It's impossible to find any talent evaluator who isn't blown away by Harper's ability on the field, but it's equally difficult to find one who doesn't genuinely dislike the kid.

One scout called him among the worst amateur players he's ever seen from a makeup standpoint, with top-of-the-scale arrogance, a disturbingly large sense of entitlement, and on-field behavior that includes taunting opponents.

"He's just a bad, bad guy," said one front-office official. "He's basically the anti-Joe Mauer."

JHS5120

<< <i>Harper has been a hot topic among scouts for a couple of years. He has all the tools, but by virtually all accounts is a complete a**hole. One scout said he has an unbelieveable sense of entitlement. He showed up an ump in the JUCO tournament and was suspended for two games (automatic as it was his 2nd ejection of the year). Of course, if he is as good as advertised I'll take him as long as he is not Milton Bradley or Elijah Dukes crazy.

From Google:

The Makeup: This should not be underrated. It's impossible to find any talent evaluator who isn't blown away by Harper's ability on the field, but it's equally difficult to find one who doesn't genuinely dislike the kid.

One scout called him among the worst amateur players he's ever seen from a makeup standpoint, with top-of-the-scale arrogance, a disturbingly large sense of entitlement, and on-field behavior that includes taunting opponents.

"He's just a bad, bad guy," said one front-office official. "He's basically the anti-Joe Mauer." >>




I heard all of this as well lol it will be interesting to see if this hurts him in the long run.

digicat

<< <i>wasn't Toe Nash 17 when he was "great"? >>



Nash was a thug and a criminal, and while he was handed the world on a silver platter, he just couldn't stop being a thug and a criminal. This, not his playing ability, resulted in the destruction of his career.

Goot

Here is the ejection:


LINK

DavidPuddy

That pitch was ridiculously outside. That ump just wanted to ring him up.

grote15

That pitch was way outside. And that ejection was rather abrupt. I thought that his drawing the line in the dirt with the bat was rather funny, actually. I agree with Puddy--the ump was just itching to ring him up.

brumbach

As I recall it, Toe Nash was much more of a project than hyped up prospect like Harper or Strasburg. And while not quite the same level of talent, I can't help but think of the Orioles' Billy Rowell when I read about this Harper kid. Hopefully he has enough talent to overcome and keep most of the attitude, every so often we need a villain, and who better than a Bizzarro Mauer.

123Slider

Zimmerman and Strasburg seem to be great players and kids. If I'm Washington, I would hate to bring an idiot to be a face of the franchise with those two. Drawing the line is an automatic ejection. He knew it before he did it, and yet was willing to miss the rest I'd the tournament anyway. Elite talent didn't do much for his maturity it seems.

markj111

<< <i>As I recall it, Toe Nash was much more of a project than hyped up prospect like Harper or Strasburg. And while not quite the same level of talent, I can't help but think of the Orioles' Billy Rowell when I read about this Harper kid. Hopefully he has enough talent to overcome and keep most of the attitude, every so often we need a villain, and who better than a Bizzarro Mauer. >>




You are correct. Nash was a project-an unsuccessful one as it turned out.

http://espn.go.com/magazine/vol6no01nash.html

Carew29

Unless he can throw guys out from his knees (Like Benito Santiago) by just a snap throw...I'll pass on the hype for now.

sportscardtheory

<< <i>Unless he can throw guys out from his knees (Like Benito Santiago) by just a snap throw...I'll pass on the hype for now. >>



Wasn't Benito Santiago pretty hyped-up for his time? Or am I thinking of someone else.

BunchOBull

<< <i>Unless he can throw guys out from his knees (Like Benito Santiago) by just a snap throw...I'll pass on the hype for now. >>



I'm pretty sure he was doing that in High School.


Edited:

From Team USA 18u -
link

Boopotts

<< <i>Harper has been a hot topic among scouts for a couple of years. He has all the tools, but by virtually all accounts is a complete a**hole. One scout said he has an unbelieveable sense of entitlement. He showed up an ump in the JUCO tournament and was suspended for two games (automatic as it was his 2nd ejection of the year). Of course, if he is as good as advertised I'll take him as long as he is not Milton Bradley or Elijah Dukes crazy.

From Google:

The Makeup: This should not be underrated. It's impossible to find any talent evaluator who isn't blown away by Harper's ability on the field, but it's equally difficult to find one who doesn't genuinely dislike the kid.

One scout called him among the worst amateur players he's ever seen from a makeup standpoint, with top-of-the-scale arrogance, a disturbingly large sense of entitlement, and on-field behavior that includes taunting opponents.

"He's just a bad, bad guy," said one front-office official. "He's basically the anti-Joe Mauer." >>



Sounds like Richie Allen 2.0. Although Dick did it in the 1960's, and I imagine it's a lot harder for a professional athlete to be completely insufferable now than it was 50 years ago. In any case, MLB needs more guys that hard working Americans feel good about hating. The NFL has it's share, and that (I'm convinced) is one of the reasons the league is so popular.

burke23

His 'attitude' seems rather overblown to me. Debatable if he deserved to be booted, but Bryce didn't stampede like a 2 year old having a hissy fit. If his teammates and coaches like him, that's what matters. To expect a 17 year old going through what he has (with national hype at 15) without an ounce of attitude is unrealistic. Some might argue the great ones (not that he is there yet) all have a strong sense of self 'worth'. Let him finish growing up before judging him - there is no such thing as a 'normal' phenom...let's just hope he is well adjusted.

Carew29

Guys in the pros used to come out and watch Santiago warm up by doing snap throws to 2nd on his knees. Story was that there were quite a few "dropped jaws".

jeffcbay

I agree with burke... especially with haters in the crowd chanting "overrated", almost wanting him to not be that good. You can tell he is kind of a douche with his eye black smeared down his face like that, but I guess that's how most of the kids do it these days. Oh well... I do hope he's a great player, this sport needs as many great players as it can get.

akuracy503

Sounds like the Yankees could build their future around this kid, Posada isnt exactly a spring chicken.
What would it take for such a deal to happen....

incugator

He's a great player that needs development. If he doesn't need it physically, he'll need it mentally. He is 17 years old. Hopefully he doesn't have to go what Josh Hamilton went through to become a Major League All-Star. The media likes to make statements like "best power hitting prospect ever" I'm guessing that they only way he lives up to the hype is if he hits more career homeruns than A-Rod (assuming A-Rod breaks Bonds record) . That's pretty heavy stuff for a 17 year old.

If Steven Strasburg doesn't have a better career than Roger Clemens, he'll be a dissapointment. Mark Prior has a few great seasons in the big leagues and is considered by most to be a bust. The hype is rediculous and unfair.

Joe Mauer was the #1 pick a few years ago and could hide in the shadow of Mark Prior and develop to be the best catcher in baseball today. He's a fan favorite and appears to be a class act.

I hope Strasbug and Haper have fantastic major league careers because they are very talented, but they should be given the opportunity to excede expectations. They can't.

metsfan

<< <i>He's a great player that needs development. If he doesn't need it physically, he'll need it mentally. He is 17 years old. Hopefully he doesn't have to go what Josh Hamilton went through to become a Major League All-Star. The media likes to make statements like "best power hitting prospect ever" I'm guessing that they only way he lives up to the hype is if he hits more career homeruns than A-Rod (assuming A-Rod breaks Bonds record) . That's pretty heavy stuff for a 17 year old.

If Steven Strasburg doesn't have a better career than Roger Clemens, he'll be a dissapointment. Mark Prior has a few great seasons in the big leagues and is considered by most to be a bust. The hype is rediculous and unfair.

Joe Mauer was the #1 pick a few years ago and could hide in the shadow of Mark Prior and develop to be the best catcher in baseball today. He's a fan favorite and appears to be a class act.

I hope Strasbug and Haper have fantastic major league careers because they are very talented, but they should be given the opportunity to excede expectations. They can't. >>



I agree with your comments, especially about not being able to exceed expectations. There is so much hype on players these days. Daryl Strawberry was supposed to be the next Ted Williams, how can anyone live up to that hype? These comparisions will always be made. Doesn't make it right, but thats how it is these days.

markj111

Excerpt from USA Today:

"Harper's likely final game as an amateur last week won't be preserved for the family album: He nearly set off a bench-clearing brawl by spiking the opposing first baseman running to first, glared at the home-plate umpire on a called strike and showed up the umpire by drawing a line in the dirt with his bat that prompted the ejection and an automatic two-game tournament suspension. He never played again, leaving his coach seething, fans angry and his teammates in tears."

burke23

<< <i>Excerpt from USA Today:

"Harper's likely final game as an amateur last week won't be preserved for the family album: He nearly set off a bench-clearing brawl by spiking the opposing first baseman running to first, glared at the home-plate umpire on a called strike and showed up the umpire by drawing a line in the dirt with his bat that prompted the ejection and an automatic two-game tournament suspension. He never played again, leaving his coach seething, fans angry and his teammates in tears." >>



Can we assume there was some literary license used there? Even if those 3 items are true (seething coach, angry fans, tearful teammates) is it attributed to Bryce's poor attitude, the Ump, or simply the failure of the team to win? My guess is the writer was going for the dramatic approach...very professional. Does he quote anyone on Bryce specifically? I doubt it.

Edit for poor grammar

dzolot

So with Strasburg on the DL, thought it made sense to revisit the Bryce Harper HYPE!! What are his key cards?? Anyone been buying them??