Washington Nationals 2015 Player Review: Bryce Harper

Our roster review series continues with the player who got the highest grade of the season, Bryce Harper. 

As we continue our player reviews for the 2015 Washington Nationals’ season, we get to the player that continues to dominate the national headlines this week. Earlier this month, Bryce Harper was awarded the National League MVP, the first one in the history of the Nats. At age-22, Harper had a fantastic season for the Nats, even though the team failed to reach its goal of the postseason.

Yes, Harper didn’t get his ring, but he got a bunch of hardware this offseason. Whether it was a MVP, a silver slugger, the Hank Aaron Award, Most Outstanding Player in the NL (Players’ Association), or the two E-Surance MLB awards he won (best Major Leaguer and best everday player), Harper deserved each one of those accolades.

In 153 games this season, Harper had a slash line of .330/.460/.649 with 42 home runs, 99 RBI’s, 118 runs scored, 124 walks, a 1.109 .OPS, and a 9.9 WAR. He led the National League in runs, home runs, slugging, and .OPS, and was second in batting average and walks.

When I joined District On Deck in January, one of the players I was excited to write about on a daily basis was Harper. Even though injuries prevented him from reaching his potential in the past, he showed this season that his at-bats are something you have to stop what you are doing and watch what might happen next.

Back in spring training, I had a conversation with my fellow co-editor, Pablo Roa, about Harper and the plate discipline he was showing when he was one of the leaders in walks at the time. Back when I saw that, I knew it would be a special season for Harper if he stayed healthy, but I never imagined he would have this type of season in an All-Star year.

As you examine the right fielder’s numbers more closely, he did not hit lower than .286 in any given month (April). He drove in double digit runs in every month except August (nine RBI’s in 98 at-bats). Plus, he was an excellent hitter at Nats Park this year. He had a slash line of .345/.448/.682 with 23 home runs and 53 RBI’s.

There are so many memories to look back on about Harper’s year, but if I had to pick one moment, it would be that torrid stretch he had in the month of May. In a month where Harper hit .360 with 13 home runs and 28 RBI’s, it was a three-day stretch from May 6-May 8 that stole the show. He hit six home runs over that span, which included a three home run game against the Marlins and a walk-off home run against the Braves (one of his two walk-off hits in 2015).

While Harper did get thrown out a few times, including late in some games, and being involved in the Jonathan Papelbon incident in September, he did show a lot of maturity in his fourth year in the league. For me, he has come a long way from a player that was once voted the most overrated player in the game.

The main question for Harper going into the 2016 season is can he duplicate what he did in 2015? If you listen to what will soon be his former teammate, Ian Desmond, there might be more greatness to come from Harper in the future, especially if he gets aggressive on the bases:

Late surge lifts Blackhawks over Ducks in OT

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Chicago Blackhawks‘ visit to Honda Center on Black Friday for a meeting of Western Conference powers has become an annual NHL staple in recent years.

In another new tradition that isn’t limited to holidays, the Blackhawks always seem to find remarkable ways to ruin the Ducks’ day.

Artem Anisimov scored 1:53 into overtime, and the Blackhawks rallied from a two-goal deficit in the final moments of regulation for a 3-2 victory over the Ducks.

After 58 scoreless minutes in which the Blackhawks largely were dominated, the defending Stanley Cup champions roared from behind in their first trip to Anaheim since winning Game 7 of the conference finals here six months ago.

Marian Hossa and Duncan Keith scored man-advantage goals in the final 1:41 of regulation before Anisimov ended it with his 10th goal, delighting the usual hundreds of Blackhawks fans in the sellout crowd.

``Well, I don't think that is the way we'd like to draw it up, but we'll take the win,'' Keith said. ``I thought they outworked us most of the game. We just found a way at the end and snuck out with the two points.''

Brent Seabrook assisted on all three scores in Chicago's fourth straight win at Anaheim on Black Friday. Chicago won the final two games of the conference finals before claiming their third Stanley Cup title in six years.

``It's a good rivalry we have going with them,'' Patrick Kane said. ``It's fun when you kind of stick with it the whole game. No one really panics.''

With an assist on Keith's goal, Kane extended his points streak to 18 games, matching Phil Kessel and Eddie Olczyk for the longest streak by an American-born player in NHL history. He was moments away from losing the streak and the game, but Chicago and the streak survived.

``You look at the Americans that have played the game, and the two guys that are part of that record with Kessel and Olczyk, that's some pretty elite company,'' Kane said. ``Been a fun little ride here.''

Hossa ended John Gibson's shutout bid during a 6-on-4 power play with 1:41 to play after a debatable tripping call against Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf on Andrew Shaw. Keith got the tying goal with 26.6 seconds left after Kane and Seabrook kept the puck alive.

The Ducks have lost seven of 10 after this gut-punch defeat, but they avoided suggestions that Shaw took a dive.

``I touched him on the back of the leg, and obviously he went down,'' Getzlaf said. ``I don't know how easy it was or whatever it was, but there's 2 minutes left and we're trying to battle them. I don't think that's a necessary call. It had nothing to do with the play. I just think it's such a great hockey game. Both teams are playing so hard, and to end it like that, I didn't think it was necessary.''

Corey Crawford stopped 23 shots for the Blackhawks, who improved to 3-1-1 on their annual six-game trip while the circus takes over United Center.

Andrew Cogliano and Chris Stewart scored early goals for Anaheim, and Gibson stopped 29 shots.

``You knew they were going to come eventually,'' said Gibson, who got within moments of his second shutout of the Blackhawks in two seasons. ``They were going to get something. They found a way to do it.''

After Anaheim's season ended one victory shy of the Stanley Cup Final last spring, the clubs revived their rivalry last month in Chicago.

This rematch included plenty of after-the-whistle chippiness, particularly from Ducks centre Ryan Kesler and Chicago captain Jonathan Toews. They even dropped their gloves late in the first period, but the linesmen separated them before anybody could throw a punch.

NOTES: Anaheim hosted Chicago on Black Friday for the ninth time. ... NL MVP Bryce Harper was in the Blackhawks' dressing room after the game, chatting with Kane. ... Chicago F Teuvo Teravainen returned from a three-game absence with an upper-body injury. ... These teams' only remaining meeting of the regular season is Feb. 13 in Chicago.

How good is Bryce Harper's incredible season in context?

In slightly longer: Bryce Harper is not just the best hitter in the world in 2015 — leading the Majors in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging — but also only 22 years old, roughly the average age of hitters in the Class A Florida State League. And he plays his home games in a park that’s not typically great for batters.

Harper’s .338/.467/.670 line in 2015 looks quite a bit like one that might have been posted by Mickey Mantle at his best: The Mick rocked a .341/.469/.661 line from 1953-55, winning two AL MVP awards along the way. And Mantle, nearly 60 years ago now, was the last player anywhere near as young as Harper to be equally productive at the plate.

The stat OPS+ adjusts for a hitter’s park and league, which helps contextualize Harper’s feats in an era in which Major League Baseball is dominated by pitching. Harper’s 204 mark in that metric is not only the highest of any player in a single season since Barry Bonds retired, but it’s second best all-time among players age 22 or younger.

Ted Williams hits a double, as he would. (AP Photo/Peter J. Carroll)

The only player Harper’s age who ever hit better than Harper has in 2015 was some guy named Ted Williams. Williams, you may know, was quite good at hitting.

No player age 25 or younger has managed an OPS+ of 200 or above since Mantle did it in 1957, and all six guys who did it before Harper are inner-inner circle Hall of Famers: Mantle, Williams, Ty Cobb, Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth.

That list comprises arguably six of the ten best hitters to ever play Major League Baseball — including the clear Nos. 1 and 2 in Ruth and Williams — and Bryce Harper. And, again, Harper’s on there with three seasons to spare.

And to think that people were still calling him “overrated” or “a bust” as of, like, March. Whoops! Bryce Harper is fully happening now.

Nationals' slugger Bryce Harper hits 41st home run in Nats' 5-2 win over Marlins

ler Moore's one-out home run in the fifth cut Miami's lead in half, making it 2-1, and it was all downhill from there for Marlins' lefty Brad Hand, who gave up a single and back-to-back walks in the next three at bats, loading the bases in front of Bryce Harper.

Harper entered the game on a tear, with 21 hits, four of them doubles and eight home runs in 50 September at bats, 16 walks and 13 Ks in 16 games this month, over which he had a .420/.552/.980 line.

"THAT'S THE EVOLUTION OF HIS GAME. SO, GRIND AT BATS, BASES LOADED, THE LEFTY ON LEFTY MATCHUP, STAYING ON BALLS, DOING WHAT HE CAN TO PUT THAT BALL IN PLAY."-MATT WILLIAMS ON BRYCE HARPER'S EVOLUTION

Harper grounded into a double play in the first, sent a fly to right in the third, then stepped in against Hand with the bases loaded in the fifth and battled the left-hander in an epic ten-pitch at bat, in which he fouled off five two-strike pitches before finally hitting a 2-2 slider to center field for a sac fly that brought Jordan Zimmermann in from third for the game-tying run.

Hand ended up throwing 41 pitches total in the fifth, walking in the go-ahead run before he was lifted.

In Harper's next at bat, in the seventh, he hit a 2-2 slider from right-hander Kyle Barraclough into the second deck in right for a two-run blast that gave Washington a three-run lead.

It was Harper's 41st home run of the season. His manager, Matt Williams, was just as impressed with the ten-pitch at bat as he was with the homer.

"That's the evolution. That's the evolution of his game," Williams said. "So, grind at bats, bases loaded, the lefty on lefty matchup, staying on balls, doing what he can to put that ball in play.

"Those are the steps that he's made this year and will continue to make that will allow him to do the things that he wants to do on the field. Pretty good at bat."

"I was trying to put the bat on the ball," Harper told reporters.

"Trying to definitely make something happen.

"LAST YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE THAT HE WAS CHASING STUFF OUT OF THE ZONE AND NOW HE'S A LOT MORE PATIENT AND KNOWS THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE HIM STRIKES..."-JORDAN ZIMMERMANN ON BRYCE HARPER'S IMPROVED PATIENCE

"Didn't care what he was going to throw up there, I was just trying to battle and do the best I could to get something in the air or get something through a hole, and was able to enough to get Jordan in on that sac fly."

"That's an important moment," Williams said. "It's one thing to try to hit a homer there, it's another thing to grind an at bat and simply get one. That will allow him to have success throughout his career if he can have at bats like that."

Zimmermann, who scored the game-tying run and earned the win on Saturday, improving to (12-4) on the year, talked after game about the changes he's seen in Harper's approach this season.

"The biggest thing that I see is he's not chasing any pitches," Zimmermann said.

"Last year and the year before that he was chasing stuff out of the zone and now he's a lot more patient and knows that they're not going to give him strikes and he's going to have to take his walks when he can."

And when they do give him pitches to hit, or make mistakes, like Barraclough did, Harper's made them pay.

Asked about Harper's numbers down the stretch, Williams said they were another sign of the 22-year-old, 2010 no.1 overall pick's continued growth.

Harper hits 41st home run in Nats' 5-2 win over the Marlins

Photo © Brad Mills/USA TODAY Sports

"It tells me that he's prepared," Williams said. "It tells me that he's thinking along with his at bats, and understanding what that situation is, whether it's a ten-pitch at bat against a lefty or understanding that he may get a breaking ball there and staying through it. Again, not big and strong, but short and quick and he can do those types of things."

Good as Harper has been, is he the NL's Most Valuable Player this season?

"I think so," Zimmermann said. "His numbers say he is and we'll see at the end of the season, but I'm pulling for him."

Harper didn't want to hear talk of awards.

"We've got [14] games left, so I'm not really worried about the MVP or anything like that, I've said that numerous times, just trying to win ballgames and just trying to do everything I can to help this team win."

What will he do to help the Nationals win the series finale with the Marlins?

Bryce Harper's sac fly, 41st HR help Nats beat Marlins 5-2

WASHINGTON (AP) When Bryce Harper stepped to the plate in the first inning Saturday, a small group of Washington Nationals fans tried to get an ''M-V-P!'' chant going, with little success. Harper grounded into a double play.

When Harper came up in the fifth with the bases loaded, a similarly small contingent greeted him with that three-letter chorus. His sacrifice fly capped a 10-pitch at-bat, tying the game.

And after Harper added insurance in the seventh inning by tacking on the final runs of Washington's 5-2 comeback victory over the Miami Marlins with his 41st homer - a no-doubt-about-it, two-run shot into the second deck in right field - it sounded as if nearly every throat in the announced crowd of 32,768 at Nationals Park was telling the world who deserves to be honored as the most valuable player in the NL.

''He's been doing it all year,'' said Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann(13-8), who allowed two runs in the first and none the rest of the way in his six-inning, seven-strikeout outing. ''He's fun to watch. And anytime we can get some guys on base while he's coming up, something good usually happens.''

As for whether Harper, still only 22, is the NL MVP?

''His numbers say he is,'' Zimmermann said. ''We'll see at the end of the season, but I'm pulling for him.''

Harper leads the NL in homers, batting average (.340) and runs (113), and his three RBIs raised his total to 95, putting him 17 behind Colorado's Nolan Arenado.

''Not really worried about the MVP or anything like that. I've said that numerous times. Just trying to win ballgames. And just trying to do everything I can to help this team win,'' Harper said. ''I definitely loved the support from the fans today.''

Coupled with the NL East-leading Mets' 5-0 loss to the Yankees, Washington's win moved it seven games out with 14 to play, giving it still only the faintest of hopes of making the playoffs.

''Just worry about ourselves and worry about us winning games,'' Harper said. ''If we don't win, it don't matter.''

Four relievers followed Zimmermann, with Jonathan Papelbon working around two singles in the ninth to earn his 24th save.

Brad Hand (4-7) gave up three runs and six walks in 4 2-3 innings. He is 0-8 in 12 appearances - 10 starts - against the Nationals.

Run-scoring hits by Christian Yelich and Justin Bour put Miami up 2-0 in the first. The score remained that way until the bottom of the fifth, when Hand fell apart.

First, the lefty gave up Tyler Moore's homer with one out, on a drive just to the left of straightaway center. Then, after allowing a single to Zimmermann, Hand lost any semblance of control, walking two batters to load the bases for Harper, whose deep sinking liner made it 2-all.

''That's the evolution. That's the evolution of his game. Grind at-bats. Bases loaded. The lefty-on-lefty matchup. Staying on balls. Doing what he can to put that ball in play,'' Nationals manager Matt Williams said. ''Those are the steps he's made this year and will continue to make that will allow him to do the things he wants to do on the field. Pretty good at-bat.''

Two more walks by Hand, to Jayson Werth and Ian Desmond, forced in the go-ahead run, and Harper's homer off Kyle Barraclough padded the lead.

''That was just a slider that ran right back into Harper's swing,'' Marlins manager Dan Jennings said. ''He's having that MVP-type season for a reason.''

TRAINER'S ROOM

Marlins: 3B Martin Prado had a black brace on his left wrist and sat out a second consecutive game.

Nationals: 1B Ryan Zimmerman missed his 11th game in a row with a side muscle injury. Moore started at first base.

UP NEXT

In Sunday's series finale, the Nationals send RHP Stephen Strasburg (9-7, 3.98 ERA) - coming off a 14-strikeout game - to the mound against Marlins LHP Justin Nicolino (3-3, 3.81).

MILESTONES

Werth has reached base in a career-best 28 consecutive games. ... Nationals 3B Yunel Escobar's single in the first inning gave him 159 hits this season, a personal best.

Bryce Harper hits 41st home run as Nationals complete comeback, beat Marlins

When Bryce Harper stepped to the plate in the first inning Saturday, a small group of Washington Nationals fans tried to get an “M-V-P!” chant going with little success. Harper grounded into a double play.

When Harper walked up in the fifth with the bases loaded, a similarly small contingent greeted him with that three-letter chorus. His sacrifice fly capped a 10-pitch at-bat, tying the score.

And after Harper added insurance in the seventh inning by tacking on the final runs of Washington’s 5-2 comeback victory over the Miami Marlins with his 41st home run — a no-doubt-about-it, two-run shot into the second deck in right field — it sounded as if nearly every throat in the announced crowd of 32,768 at Nationals Park was telling the world who deserves to be honored as the most valuable player in the National League.

“He’s been doing it all year,” said Jordan Zimmermann (13-8), who allowed two runs in the first and none the rest of the way in his six-inning, seven-strikeout outing. “He’s fun to watch, and anytime we can get some guys on base while he’s coming up, something good usually happens.”

As for whether Harper, still only 22, is the NL MVP?

“His numbers say he is,” Zimmermann said. “We’ll see at the end of the season, but I’m pulling for him.”

Harper leads the NL in home runs, batting average (.340) and runs (113), and his three RBI raised his total to 95, putting him 17 behind the Colorado Rockies’ Nolan Arenado.

“Not really worried about the MVP or anything like that. I’ve said that numerous times. Just trying to win ballgames, and just trying to do everything I can to help this team win,” Harper said. “I definitely loved the support from the fans today.”

Coupled with the NL East-leading New York Mets’ 5-0 loss to the New York Yankees, Washington’s win moved it seven games out with 14 games to play, giving it still only the faintest of hopes of making the playoffs.

“Just worry about ourselves and worry about us winning games,” Harper said. “If we don’t win, it don’t matter.”

Four relievers followed Zimmermann, with Jonathan Papelbon working around two singles in the ninth to earn his 24th save.

Brad Hand (4-7) gave up three runs and six walks in 4 2/3 innings. He is 0-8 in 12 appearances — 10 starts — against the Nationals.

Run-scoring hits by Christian Yelich and Justin Bour put Miami up, 2-0, in the first. The score remained that way until the bottom of the fifth, when Hand fell apart.

First, the lefty gave up Tyler Moore’s home run with one out on a drive just to the left of straightaway center. Then, after allowing a single to Zimmermann, Hand lost any semblance of control, walking two batters to load the bases for Harper, whose deep sinking liner made it 2-2.

“That’s the evolution. That’s the evolution of his game. Grind at-bats. Bases loaded. The lefty-on-lefty matchup. Staying on balls. Doing what he can to put that ball in play,” Nationals manager Matt Williams said. “Those are the steps he’s made this year and will continue to make that will allow him to do the things he wants to do on the field. Pretty good at-bat.”

Bryce Harper’s 41st home run caps Nationals’ 5-2 win over Marlins

As Bryce Harper rounded the bases in the seventh inning Saturday afternoon, the Washington Nationals en route to a 5-2 win thanks to his two-run home run to the second deck, the letters M, V and P flashed on the right field scoreboard. And as he went through the many teammate-specific celebrations after crossing home plate, Harper was serenaded by chants of “M-V-P” by adoring Nationals fans.

Forget for a moment the disenchantment of this season — likely to end in two weeks because the Nationals still face a seven-game division deficit with 14 remaining — and consider what Harper has accomplished. While the team around him struggled, Harper has delivered unequaled excellence on a regular basis.

Some may feel Harper’s campaign was for naught, coming amid the Nationals’ disappointing season. But the 22-year-old delivered one of the finest offensive seasons in recent history, regardless of his age.

[Thomas Boswell: Harper’s season for the ages could have long-term effects]

“His numbers say he is [the NL MVP],” starter Jordan Zimmermann said. “We’ll see at the end of the season, but I’m pulling for him.”

There has been no shortage of statistical analysis of Harper’s exceptional season, but few numbers are as telling as this: His 203 OPS+ (a version of on-base-plus-slugging percentage that adjusts for stadiums and leagues) is the highest since Barry Bonds’s 263 in 2004. And that was before Harper homered and drove in three runs on Saturday.

“We’ve got [14] games left, so not really worried about the MVP or anything like that,” Harper said. “I’ve said that numerous times. Just trying to win ballgames. And just trying to do everything I can to help this team win. I definitely loved the support from the fans today, and that was great to see them out there on a good Saturday.”

Harper’s performance backed Zimmermann (13-8) and the bullpen. Zimmermann allowed two runs — both coming in the first — and struck out seven over six innings, working through early command issues before settling down. Felipe Rivero, Blake Treinen and Jonathan Papelbon preserved the win.

For the third straight game, the Nationals trailed 2-0 three batters into the game. Zimmermann’s command was to blame Saturday. Dee Gordon, a threat to Harper for the NL batting title, singled. Christian Yelich doubled to score Ichiro Suzuki, who beat a relay throw home. Justin Bour, a former All-Met out of Westfield High and George Mason, singled in a run to give the Marlins a 2-0 lead.

“I like to throw my fastball and I just didn’t have very good command today, so I just stuck with what was working and it happened to be the slider,” Zimmermann said.

Marlins starter Brad Hand was cruising into the fifth before he imploded. Tyler Moore, who started despite a .174 average against left-handers because of his success against Hand, smashed a low fastball to center field for a solo home run that halved the deficit. Zimmermann followed with a single, and Anthony Rendon and Yunel Escobar walked to load the bases.

Harper then had the type of at-bat that few hitters can, one that will be overshadowed by his home run. He fouled off five pitches, including one that broke his bat. He called to the dugout for batting gloves because the bat was slipping, but decided to stick with his bare hands, dirt and rosin.

“That’s the evolution of his game,” Manager Matt Williams said. “Grind at-bats. Bases loaded. The lefty-on-lefty matchup. Staying on balls. Doing what he can to put that ball in play. Those are the steps he’s made this year and will continue to make that will allow him to do the things he wants to do on the field.”

On the 10th pitch of the at-bat, Harper lined a ball to right field, deep enough to score Zimmermann, who tagged up. Harper drove up Hand’s pitch count, which proved beneficial to the next two batters.

“Didn’t care what he was going to throw up there, I was just trying to battle and do the best I could to get something in the air or get something through a hole,” Harper said.

Hand then walked Jayson Werth on five pitches, extending the outfielder’s on-base streak to a career-high 28 games. Hand next walked Ian Desmond on four pitches with the bases loaded to give the Nationals a 3-2 lead.

Two innings later, Harper added the knockout blow. Reliever Kyle Barraclough fired a slider to Harper, who, despite a swing that ended with his back leg nearly on the ground, drilled a line drive to right field for his 41st home run of the season. After Papelbon notched the final three outs with two runners on, Harper was interviewed on the field, and again, Nationals fans chanted “M-V-P.”