In 2015, Bryce Harper hit .330 and slugged 42 home runs en route to his 9.5 win, NL MVP award-winning season. For most fans of baseball, the new Bryce Harper – the one we all suspected was lurking just behind the surface – had finally arrived. And then 2016 happened.
In 2016, Harper, still just 23 at the time, hit nearly .100 points lower (.243) and nearly half as many home runs (24). His walk rate (17.2%) and on base percentage (.373) were still sufficiently high to earn All-Star honors, but he was clearly a shade down overall from the offensive monster we saw a year earlier.
Well, we’re only a few weeks into the 2017 season, but it’s sure looking like the 2015 version of Bryce Harper has come to play:
https://twitter.com/Nationals/status/853683745769095168
That’s the first of Bryce Harper’s two home runs from yesterday’s walk-off win over the Philadelphia Phillies – they must be getting really sick of him by now.
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The second home run, well, let’s just say it was a game-changer:
BAH GAWD HE'S BROKEN IN HALF! pic.twitter.com/WSjfwYJoHO
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) April 16, 2017
Yeah, thats’ Bryce Harper living your actual childhood dream: bottom of the ninth inning, two outs, full count, at home, down a run … and BAM walk-off homer against the divisional rivals.
It doesn’t get much better than that.
The Nationals even poured salt on the Phillies wounds’, by repurposing the intro to the local-favorite show, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” for their own devious enjoyment:
Guest starring Bryce Harper's 4th career walk-off HR. pic.twitter.com/e0K1UBYrOZ
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) April 16, 2017
And it wasn’t a cheap one, either:
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According to Daren Willman, that homer was 109 MPH off the bat and 424 feet to straight away center field … which is about as sure a home run can get:
Bryce Harper's walk off was an absolute bomb… 109 MPH and 424ft. pic.twitter.com/b9xWnzcNW1
— Daren Willman (@darenw) April 16, 2017
Bryce Harper is currently hitting .333/.455/.644 with four home runs and a walk-rate (18.2%) that exceeds his strikeout rate (16.4%). It’s still early in the season, of course, but it sure looks like Harper may be on track to contend for his second MVP award in three years.
https://twitter.com/Nationals/status/853711440456364032
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