2012 Player Review: Bryce Harper
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The Washington Nationals enjoyed unprecedented success in 2012, recording the best record in Major League Baseball. The team relied on the contributions of many different players, whom we will catalogue throughout the offseason as we look ahead to the 2013 campaign. Today we take a closer look at the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year, Bryce Harper.
One could say that Bryce Harper’s 2012 National League Rookie of the Year campaign was preordained by Sports Illustrated three years ago. But that would not give Harper – who works as hard as any player out there at improving his fitness and his game – his due credit for the remarkable numbers he posted playing as a teenager in the Major Leagues. He hit the second-most home runs ever by a teenager. He fell just two steals shy of a 20/20 season and two runs shy of 100 in just 139 games. He was an All-Star, and even garnered MVP votes for his impressive showing, netting 5.0 wins above replacement to help the Nationals win their first ever NL East crown.
Much like our Gio Gonzalez Player Review, we won’t repeat every accomplishment in full detail. Rather, we encourage you to relive our Curly W Live coverage from some of his most memorable moments and enjoy a few of our favorite highlights from Harper’s inaugural campaign.
WOW! Watching all of the highlights of Bryce during his Rookie season was amazing. Almost like being there again. He certainly sparked the Nats to a winning season. It didn’t see as if the team was playing to their potential until he came aboard. Again I must say, I can’t wait until April 1st, 2013 and hope it is an even more wonderous year for Bryce who will then be a seasoned player. Everyone on the team contributed to their success and let’s not forget the other two rookies, Tyler Moore and Steve Lambardosi.