Las Vegas High School catcher Bryce Harper was already widely regarded as the No. 1 pick in the 2011 MLB draft. But then the superstar 16-year-old talent decided to leave high school after his sophomore year to enroll in junior college and become eligible for the 2010 draft, where he is expected to go No. 1 overall.
Travel Teams Early On
Bryce Harper was born on October 16, 1992 in Las Vegas, Nevada. By the time Bryce was nine, travel teams from California to Colorado to Oklahoma paid the Harpers' way so he could play for them in tournaments. He played between 80 and 130 games a year between 2001 and 2008.
570-Foot Blast, Pan-Am Games MVP
As a freshman in 2008, Harper slugged a home run 570 feet during a game with Las Vegas High. As part of USA Baseball's Under-16 team at the Pan-Am Championships, Harper batted .571 with four homers in eight games with a 1.214 slugging average, a .676 on-base percentage and six stolen bases as the tournament MVP. He also agreed to be advised by über-agent Scott Boras.
502-Foot Home Run At Tropicana Field
The Harper legend grew early on in 2009 at an international home run hitting showcase in January. Using a metal bat, the 16-year-old crushed a 502-foot homer that smashed off the back wall of Tropicana Field - the longest shot in the history of the stadium.
Incredible Sophomore Season
Harper did not slow down at all during his sophomore season for LVHS, despite admittedly working more on hitting to the opposite field. His numbers for the season including hitting .626/.723/1.339 in 115 at-bats with 22 doubles, nine triples and 14 home runs, eight of which came in his last seven playoff games. He scored 76 runs while driving in 55. He struck out just five times while drawing 39 walks. He also stole 36 bases in 39 attempts and finished the season on a 23-game hitting streak. LVHS were eliminated in the playoffs by perennial power Bishop Gorman, which ended up as Baseball America's national high school champion.
Baseball America High School Player Of The Year
Harper's amazing season led the catcher to win the Baseball America High School Player of the Year. However, no junior had ever won the award, much less a sophomore.
Among past BA Player of the Year winners:
1993 Trot Nixon, of/lhp
1999 Josh Hamilton, of/lhp
2001 Joe Mauer, c
2002 Scott Kazmir, lhp
2004 Homer Bailey, rhp
2005 Justin Upton, ss
2006 Adrian Cardenas, ss/2b
2007 Mike Moustakas, ss
2008 Ethan Martin, 3b/rhp
Chosen One - Baseball's LeBron James
The hype around Harper grew to epic proportions after Sports Illustrated put him on the cover of the June 8 issue with the title "Baseball's Chosen One" as well as "Baseball's LeBron". Videos of Harper are abundant throughout Youtube and he has already been selected in fantasy baseball dynasty leagues. An amateur game with Harper drew a standing room crowd of 800 spectators with six radio and television stations and the crew from ESPN show E60. USA Baseball also asked Harper to sign copies of the Sports Illustrated issue with "I am ready to play in 2016. Bryce Harper" as international baseball officials try to restore the sport to the Olympics in 2016.
Harper Scouting Report
Harper is a left-handed swinging, right-hand throwing catcher who has worked out at shortstop and third base and has been compared favorably to Alex Rodriguez and Justin Upton - both former No. 1 overall picks. Harper stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 205 pounds, has faster bat speed that Mark McGwire in his prime. He has well above-average arm strength behind the plate with pop times between 1.8 and 1.9 seconds. He possesses raw power with a knack for squaring up every pitch. Speed is his lone average tool. He also has a fastball that has been clocked at 96 mph.
Becoming Eligible For 2010 Draft
Harper decided to skip his final two years of high school and will acquire his GED. He will enroll in the College of Southern Nevada, a junior college, which will likely allow him to be eligible for 2010 draft, where he expected to be selected number one. Harper will live at home, take online and night courses, attend classes three days a week with 12 credits.
At College of Southern Nevada, Harper will be playing with his older brother Bryan, who will transfer from Cal State Northridge, for whom he played after getting drafted by the Nationals in the 31st round last year.
Washington On Track For Harper
As of July 1, 2009, the 22-53 Washington Nationals led the 31-48 Indians in the race for the worst record in baseball and the top pick in the 2010 draft.
