Bryce Harper Batting Practice

18 Year old college frosh Bryce Harper

February 22, 2010 – Matt Anaya

Bryce Harper is only 18 but swings like a grown man.

Yeah, yeah, yeah go ahead and make fun of me. Call me creepy because I would stalk an 18 year old Bryce Harper in the batting cage. Call me whatever you want but make sure you call me a fan of “The LeBron James of Baseball” Bryce Harper.

I could watch this kid mash all damned day and scout Jason A. Churchill had this to say about my new BFF.

He’s a left-handed hitter with big raw power, and if he sticks at catcher is certain to be a tremendous value to the club that drafts him. And no, I’m not assuming he goes 1-1 to the Nationals, because there are some pretty major concerns with Harper.

Personally, I don’t think he’s going to catch, and I’m certainly not the first to doubt that aspect of Harper’s value. He may grow out of the position by adding 25 or 30 pounds to his already 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame, which may eat up too much of his athleticism. Aside from Matt Weiters and Joe Mauer, name a tall catcher who is good defensively.

But to make sure, Harper is likely to start his pro career as a catcher, and will get every opportunity to remain there — which is the right move, of course.

But he’s also playing some third base this year, which is the next spot I’d try him at; then RF, then 1B. His arm is well above average, perhaps a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale in terms of strength, and has already made ajustments at the plate, designed to help him make contact versus bigger fastballs as well as use the whole field on a more regular basis.

In the video below, taken this past Thursday and Friday at his home ballpark, you’ll see Harper taking BP, and then lining an opposite-field double that hit the wall after one hop.

Go ahead and watch the video. Let me know your thoughts on his swing and never mind the obnoxious country music that made me quit the game I still love. Through February 20, Harper is hitting .356, getting on base 45% of the time, with four jacks, and 15 RBI.

@MatAnaya

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