Bryce Harper: A Breath of Fresh Air

He is “a so-called 19-year-old phenom,” according to legendary baseball announcer Vin Scully. This “phenom” in question is Bryce Harper, who was called up to the Major Leagues last weekend by the Washington Nationals and is someone a superstar-barren league desperately needs.

As its attendance numbers and popularity continue to drop, America’s pastime has become just that – a thing from the past. The new era has people thinking the game is still in the stone-age due to replay rules and the slow, methodical pace. The steroid era is a thing of the past and the old mantra of “chicks dig the long ball” is becoming more apparent.

The either loved or hated players of the past decade or so have either retired or are nearing the ends of their careers. With Roger Clemens on trial and Barry Bonds no longer a factor on the field, and Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter aging quickly, the league’s best players seem to be lacking of charisma and the “hate factor.” The game is in need of someone young they can gravitate to, and Harper fits that mold.

With over 30,000 fans mercilessly booing every at-bat he takes, Bryce Harper seems cool and collected. He flips his helmet off running to second base after hitting a line drive off the Dodger Stadium wall for his first Major League hit, his long-flowing mullet sweeping through the cool night air, and a look of “I’ve done this before” on his face. Harper’s journey to the Major Leagues was a short one, but also a unique one.

After earning his General Education Development following his sophomore year of high school in 2009, Harper became eligible for the Major League Draft in 2010. He enrolled at the College of Southern Nevada at the age of 17, where he hit .443 with 31 home runs and 98 runs batted in, all in 66 games. He won the Golden Spikes Award for being the best college baseball player in the country, then was drafted first overall by the Nationals in June 2010.

The last player to enter the Major Leagues as a teenage was Adrian Beltre in 1998 with the Dodgers. He, however, was from the Dominican Republic. The last players with transcendent superstar charisma to enter the league as teenagers were Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez and Andruw Jones in the 1990s. Griffey and Rodriguez, known as “The Kid” and “A-Rod,” respectively, were among the most talked about and popular/unpopular players in the game.

Harper may already be the single biggest star in the sport. With an unprecedented career path and an almost overwhelming cockiness, Harper is being eagerly anticipated as either a huge success or a huge failure by the entire baseball world. Time will tell if Harper can handle the immense pressure exuded upon him.

The biggest test for Harper thus far was responding to Philadelphia Phillies’ Cole Hamels’ fastball to the back, for which the star pitcher was suspended five games after the May 7 game. Harper acted with poise, shrugging the intentional plunking off and continuing to play. He definitely has the talent and gravitas to be a superstar. It takes more than that, however.

“He has to mature. He has no humility. He needs to study athletes like Derrick Rose and what they do. He has the potential to be a megastar, but the media will try to tear him down,” according to DePaul marketing professor Ronald Culp.

As of now, the chosen one with the blue eyes, mullet and smirk is off to a nice start, getting hits in each of his first two games. He has been spotterd playing pickup softball games with high schoolers. In a game of failure, there may have never been more pressure on a young player to succeed. Mr. Harper, good luck to you.