Bryce Harper: Washington Nationals Phenom Is Here to Stay

His backstory is amazing, and the early results are proof that he was worth the hype.

Bryce Harper, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, made his Major League debut with the Washington Nationals on April 28 and hasn’t looked back since. Don’t expect it to happen anytime soon either.

Through his first eight games, Harper is hitting .308/.424/.500 with three runs scored, three runs batted in, five doubles and one stolen base.

Those stats don’t exactly scream phenom, but considering this is a 19-year-old with the weight of the world on his shoulders, his start indicates the beginning of something extraordinary.

Without a long track record of facing quality pitching—not even the equivalent of one full season in the Minors—Harper will endure some bumps along the road. But with the Nationals leading the pack in the National League East, injuries to outfielders Michael Morse (targeting a June 1 return) and Jayson Werth (reportedly out 12 weeks after breaking his wrist Sunday), and Harper’s sheer passion to play the game, all of those growing pains will happen in the nation’s capital.

The injuries to Morse and Ryan Zimmerman forced the Nationals’ hand in calling up Harper, who was expected to spend a significant portion of 2012 at AAA. It seemed as though the visit would be short-lived, but general manager Mike Rizzo had this to say about the situation:

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"We're not dumb...This guy is performing admirably in the big leagues. We feel he's got a chance to really impact the ball club. He's a special talent. So you have to throw ordinary development curves out the window if you have to."

"You have to be able to be light on your feet and utilize the assets that you have. If he is performing the way he's performing now, there's no way in hell I can get Davey Johnson to get rid of him."

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In the first inning of last night’s 9-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, starting pitcher Cole Hamels admitted to intentionally plunking Harper to “welcome” him to the big leagues.

What does Harper do to thank Hamels for his not-so-kind gesture? He catches the veteran lefty napping on a pickoff move to first base and steals home plate, becoming the first teenager to do so since 1964.

Not only does that emphasize Harper’s unparalleled enthusiasm for the game of baseball, but it will also help prove that this kid belongs in the company of men.

When the results begin to catch up to his demeanor, he will be thanking pitchers in more ways than one for acknowledging his presence in the Majors.

Contact Jeremy at [e-mail], on Twitter @KCPopFlyBoy and at popflyboys.com.