Bryce Harper: Nationals' Rookie Must Not Let Power Surge Ruin Hitting Approach

With Bryce Harper hitting two home runs in his last two games, you can start to feel the floodgates opening. The Washington Nationals' phenom is finding his rhythm now, but it mustn't come at the expense of all the other things he has to work on. 

One of the biggest problems with a player, especially a 19-year-old who has been up for two weeks and who starts to hit home runs, is when they have that success early, it can start to change the way they approach hitting. 

We see it all the time with veteran players. They hit a few home runs in a short span and the temptation to drive everything will lead to them pulling off the ball, missing pitches that should be driven the other way and a lot of strikeouts. 

Harper is going to have his share of strikeouts, because he is so young and still has a lot of development ahead of him. 

But now that he has started to drive the ball out of the park, the temptation could be there for him to just crush everything he sees. Some would say Harper does that anyway, since he has off-the-chart bat speed and a lot of violence in his swing. 

There is a difference between having a naturally violent swing, and one that hurts the way you hit. Harper is clearly in the former camp right now, but it doesn't take much to change your fortunes in the game of baseball. 

In addition to the power that Harper is displaying now, his approach in the box will also be key. He has shown a good eye at the plate in a very small sample size, and that must continue for him to have success the rest of the season. 

Going up to the plate with the mindset that you can crush anything, regardless of where it is thrown, will lead to a lot of quick outs. Working the count is just as important to a successful hitter as anything else. 

Harper must not rush his swing or look for a pitch that is clearly out of the zone just because he has the itch to hit more home runs. Since he is such a talented player, and so far advanced given his age, it is hard to imagine things completely falling apart for him. 

Still, baseball is a funny game, and the slightest mechanical tweak can turn that hot streak into an 0-for-20 stretch. 

For more analysis on swings, mutton chops and the art of hitting a wall with a bat, be sure to check me out on Twitter. 

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