Following their busy offseason, the Washington Nationals figure to be one of the more exciting teams to watch in 2012. As if Nationals fans didn’t have enough of a reason to tune in already, the club might offer followers yet another. Manager Davey Johnson has been campaigning for top prospect Bryce Harper to start the season at the major league level. While some figured this was just talk, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo indicated that Harper could indeed begin the year in Washington.
Rizzo told Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com that the Nationals are going to take a look at Harper this spring and “see where he’s at developmentally”. Rizzo noted that if the Nationals feel Harper is “ready to play at the major league level” they will not restrict him. Rizzo went on to say that Washington will be “cautious yet open-minded” when it comes to Harper this spring.
As if starting a 19-year-old in his second year of professional ball out at the major league level wasn’t questionable enough, there are other factors in play that suggest Harper isn’t favored to begin 2012 in Washington.
It’s true that Harper was able to dominate pitchers at the Low-A level, but once he hit Double-A Harrisburg it was a different story. Over his 147 plate appearances for the Senators, Harper only managed a line of .256/.329/.395.
But maybe Harper will show enough to convince the Nationals he’s ready to make the jump following an offseason that’s include the Arizona Fall League and lots of hard work. Still, some will question how wise it will be for the Nationals to start Harper’s arbitration and free agent clocks this soon before the teenager has forced his way to the majors.
Of course fans don’t want to hear this, and certainly not fans of a club that has the potential to make a splash in the National League playoff picture this season.
We’ll have to wait and see how the Nationals ultimately decide to handle Harper, but at this point it appears they are at least keeping an open mind. If we take Rizzo at his word, then Harper has a shot at starting the season with the Nationals if they feel he gives them the best chance to win.
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