Philadelphia Phillies: Bryce Harper is locked and loaded

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper is zeroed in this spring training, laying the foundation for what could be an MVP caliber season.

Veterans tend to take it easy during spring training, never playing in road games and rarely running their laps on the warning track in the waning innings of each contest. In fact, they usually get two at-bats in and then are three holes into their back nine by the time the baseball game concludes. Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper may not be the exception, but one thing is certain, he is already locked in.

In the Phillies 3-1 spring win over the Yankees Harper had a hit in each of his three at-bats. His hits came in a variety of ways which showing Harper is combining his power and speed to reach base any way he can.

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Harper’s first-inning single was a grounder hit directly into the shift, though he hustled down the line to beat out the throw from shallow right field. In the third inning, Harper worked the count full before slicing a ball deep into the left-field corner which bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double.

Aided by the left fielder losing the ball in the sun, Harper nonetheless displayed his opposite-field power. In his third at-bat, Harper roped an opposite-field single to left field to finish his afternoon perfect at the plate.

Through his sixteen spring at-bats, Harper has eight hits including six extra-base hits. He has smashed three home runs and driven in a team-high eleven runs. Harper has walked four times against three strikeouts and also leads the team with three stolen bases.

We’ll throw out the spring training disclaimer of statistics should be taken with a grain of salt. Bryce Harper is laser-focused on his hitting right now and his entire skillset is refined and ready for the regular season.

Expect Harper to put up big numbers this year