Bryce Harper GIF: Nationals' Phenom Launches 1st Home Run of the Season

Bryce Harper belted his first home run of the season on Sunday, as Syracuse dropped Game 1 of double-dip against Buffalo, 6-1. After a 2-for-5 day, the Nationals phenom is now batting .234 with four doubles, a triple and two RBI. 

Despite a slow start to the season, it seems as though Harper is beginning to warm up. Prospect Pipeline’s No. 2 prospect now has nine hits in his last 10 games, four of which have gone for extra bases.

Batting fifth for the Chiefs on Sunday, Harper got every bit of a 3-2 fastball from Mets’ prospect Jeurys Famalia with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning. The solo shot easily cleared the fence to straightaway right field, and accounted for the team’s only run in the loss.

Harper’s second hit of the game came in his next at-bat, when he reached on an infield single against veteran left-hander Chuck James. The hit was Harper’s fourth hit in 21 at-bats against a southpaw this season.

As you can see above, Harper was sitting dead-red fastball on Familia’s 3-2 offering—getting it in his wheelhouse was merely a bonus. As the rare generational player who possesses 80-grade power, his bat speed is tremendous and his extension through the ball yields robust power to all fields.

Hopefully the bomb is another sign of good things to come for Harper, who, despite any performance, will not likely debut until June—at the earliest. 

Following an off day on Monday, Syracuse will begin a three-game road series against the Rochester Red Wings.