MLB Spring Training 2012: Washington Nationals Send Bryce Harper to Triple-A

According to the Washington Post's Adam Kilgore, the Washington Nationals have optioned 19-year-old prospect Bryce Harper to Triple-A Syracuse. Harper is the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball, according to Baseball America. 

This move was expected as Harper played his first season of professional baseball this past season, playing 72 games with Single-A Hagerstown and 37 with Double-A Harrisburg.

In his time in Single-A, Harper made an immediate impact, hitting .318/.423/.554 with 14 home runs, 46 RBI, 49 runs and 19 stolen bases. He was then promoted to Double-A in early July where he played off injuries that limited him to just 37 games. In those games, Harper hit .256.329/.395 with three home runs, 12 RBI, 14 runs and seven stolen bases.

This spring, Harper appeared in nine games with the Nationals, hitting .269 (7-26) without scoring or producing any runs and striking out 10 times. 

Washington will now watch to see how Harper will transitions into Triple-A, after only reaching Double-A last season, and then make a decision on when to call him up to the majors. Washington manager Davey Johnson told ESPN's Buster Olney that he wants Harper to get at-bats in Triple-A while also working on playing center field. 

If he doesn't exceed expectations immediately in Syracuse, a September call-up is the most likely course of action for Harper as he moves up the ladder until he reaches the big leagues.