Tuesday, August 17th was a huge day for Bryce Harper. At only 17 years old, this baseball catcher has accomplished what many only dream of doing. He was drafted to play major league baseball. As the first pick of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft, he signed with the Washington Nationals with a 5 year, $9.9 million contract.
Bryce Harper: Before Major League Baseball
Bryce Harper was born in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1992. As the 2009 Baseball America High School Player of the Year, Bryce must have known he had a potential career in baseball. He worked hard to earn his GED at Las Vegas High School so that he could go to college sooner. This decision was made in order to enable him to be drafted sooner, thus giving him a head-start on his professional career. After receiving his GED, Bryce Harper attended the College of Southern Nevada. He had great success while attending CSN, with 31 home runs and a 0.433 batting average.
Bryce Harper: A Washington National
After attending college for just one, Bryce Harper was drafted into Major League Baseball. He was the first pick of the 2010 MLB draft. The Washington Nationals agreed to a 5 year, $9.9 million contract which included a $6.25 million signing bonus. This number was surprisingly low compared to the $7.5 million signing bonus that Stephen Strasburg received in the 2009 MLB draft.
ESPN Baseball Insider, Keith Law, has speculated that the Washington Nationals will move Bryce Harper to the right fielder position for two reasons. First of all, this move will help get him out of the minor league and into the major league faster. Also, this move will reduce his risk of injury.
What's Next for Bryce Harper?
Bryce Harper is required to make it into the major league within about four years or else he will have to fill out waivers to be sent back to the minor league. Considering the amount of skill that he has shown, along with the tremendous levels of hype that he has generated, this will probably not be an issue for him.
The addition of Bryce Harper to the Washington National's 40 man roster is a move that signifies the club's attempt to develop a better overall team. By drafting well, the Nationals hope to create a team that can grow to a level that will allow them to be a serious contender for championships.
David Pesek - Hello, my name is David and I currently attend the University of Central Florida. I write unique, eye-opening articles on a wide range of ...
