So far this season Bryce Harper (pictured above) is proving my prediction of him being the National League MVP to be one thing I may actually get right, but it's truly hard to believe what he is doing at just age 20.
Bryce Harper is on pace for a historic season, not just for someone at the age of 20, but of all time. If he were to stay at this pace which is unlikely, but definitively not out of the realm of possibility, his stats would look like this if he stays healthy and ends up with around 600 at bats:
Batting Average: .371
OnBase Percentage: .426
Slugging Percentage: .758
OPS (Onbase plus slugging): 1.185
Home Runs: 67
Runs Batted In: 135
Hits: 222
Extra base hits: 96
Walks: 58
Runs: 125
Now this would be arguably the best season a player could ever have, and he would do it at age 20.
What stands out most to me though is the fact that he has played so well with all the pressure he deals with on a daily basis. He was the chosen one and the number 1 overall pick of the 2011 draft. He came up last season and played as if he had been there before and was a huge reason the Nationals were able to make the playoffs last season.
Coming into this season, where the Nationals are suppose to walk over everybody in rout to a World Series championship, he was plugged into the 3 hole in the lineup and has come through even better then most expected. The 3 hole is arguably the most important spot in the lineup and he has stepped in and played like a seasoned veteran who has been an MVP caliber player his whole career.
He seems to have taken on a leadership role on this team by going out and playing the game the way it should be played. He is doing this all while he still is not old enough to legally drink in this country. If he keeps this up we could not only see him set records, win an MVP, but also put a team on his back and carry them to a championship. All while still not being able to order a jack and coke. Move over Mike Trout, Bryce is not only the best young player in baseball, but perhaps already the best player in baseball PERIOD.
Written by Nick Calo, follow me on Twitter for more updates and sports thoughts @PRH1987
Bryce Harper is on pace for a historic season, not just for someone at the age of 20, but of all time. If he were to stay at this pace which is unlikely, but definitively not out of the realm of possibility, his stats would look like this if he stays healthy and ends up with around 600 at bats:
Batting Average: .371
OnBase Percentage: .426
Slugging Percentage: .758
OPS (Onbase plus slugging): 1.185
Home Runs: 67
Runs Batted In: 135
Hits: 222
Extra base hits: 96
Walks: 58
Runs: 125
Now this would be arguably the best season a player could ever have, and he would do it at age 20.
What stands out most to me though is the fact that he has played so well with all the pressure he deals with on a daily basis. He was the chosen one and the number 1 overall pick of the 2011 draft. He came up last season and played as if he had been there before and was a huge reason the Nationals were able to make the playoffs last season.
Coming into this season, where the Nationals are suppose to walk over everybody in rout to a World Series championship, he was plugged into the 3 hole in the lineup and has come through even better then most expected. The 3 hole is arguably the most important spot in the lineup and he has stepped in and played like a seasoned veteran who has been an MVP caliber player his whole career.
He seems to have taken on a leadership role on this team by going out and playing the game the way it should be played. He is doing this all while he still is not old enough to legally drink in this country. If he keeps this up we could not only see him set records, win an MVP, but also put a team on his back and carry them to a championship. All while still not being able to order a jack and coke. Move over Mike Trout, Bryce is not only the best young player in baseball, but perhaps already the best player in baseball PERIOD.
Written by Nick Calo, follow me on Twitter for more updates and sports thoughts @PRH1987