Bryce Harper Called Up; Nationals Place Ryan Zimmerman on DL

Bryce Harper has arrived.  The day many Washington Nationals and baseball fans in general have waited for is here.  To replace injured third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who’s been placed on the Nationals 15-day disabled list, Washington has called up 19-year-old phenom Bryce Harper.  Harper will make his debut today against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Nationals said that Harper will get the start in left field today, though the teenager has also been used in center while playing in Triple-A.  Harper becomes the youngest player in the majors by a long shot and the youngest ever making his debut for the Nationals.

Harper has spent enough of the season in the minors to delay his free agent clock.  Because the Nationals decided to wait until they did to promote Harper, the outfielder won’t become a free agent until after the 2018 season.

Still, it didn’t appear that a promotion was in Harper’s near future, as the youngster got off to a slow start to the Triple-A season.  Through his first 20 games, Harper has only maintained a line of .250/.333/.375 with a single home run.

Harper has been better of late, batting .290/.421/.419 over his last 10 contests, but it’s not like he was setting the world on fire as fellow top prospect Mike Trout was before he was promoted.

Whatever the case, Harper is headed for the bigs.  The Nationals have said that this move could be temporary as they will re-evaluate Harper’s situation once Zimmerman returns from the DL.

While Washington is free to say whatever they want, you can bet the Nationals are hoping Harper hits the ground running and that he never sees another minor league pitch.

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