Some of the best days at a Minor League ballpark come when a proven star comes through a small stadium during their rehab assignments.
This was very much the case this week when Bryce Harper spent time with High-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg, where he was actually young for each level, during a rehab stint leading up to his return from the DL on Monday.
In the five game rehab stint, Harper got 19 plate appearances, and reached base 14 times. His triple slash line was an incredible .643/.737/1.571, and he hit four home runs, including three on Saturday night.
During Saturday night’s game against Akron, Harper had four hits, including the three home runs, and drove in five runs and helped lift Harrisburg to a 10-4 win.
His two games with Potomac give him four career games in High-A, the other two coming last season during a rehab stint, where he has five hits and three walks with two home runs and five RBIs in those four games.
Harper has played just 22 games in the big leagues before having to undergo surgery on his left thumb in late April. He had just one home run before the injury, but has hit 22 and 20 in his first two big league seasons.
Harper spent just one full season in the minor leagues before making his big league debut at the age of 19.