Why Bryce Harper's Start Is Actually More Impressive Than Stephen Strasburg's

Bryce Harper has gotten off to a great start in his very young professional baseball career. The Washington Nationals made a risky call when they decided to promote him to the majors early in the 2012, but the move has paid dividends and there's reason to believe that the Nationals wouldn't be where they are now without Harper's bat.

Through 63 games (248 at-bats), Harper sports a .282/.354/.472 line with eight home runs, 25 RBI and 10 stolen bases.

Those stats (and his enormous fan base) were enough to get him into the 2012 MLB All-Star Game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.

Another young National got off to a great start during his rookie season a few years ago. Stephen Strasburg was filthy right from his debut, a game in which he struck out 14 Pittsburgh Pirates.

He started 11 more games that season (2010), and posted a 5-3 record, 2.91 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 68 innings.

He single-handedly changed the outlook of the Nationals' future. Home game attendance skyrocketed as fans now had a reason to watch the team at least every fifth day.

While Strasburg's start was quite impressive, there's no doubting that Harper's has been even better.

At just 19 years old, Harper is in just his second season of professional baseball. After his sophomore year of high school, Harper received his GED to forgo the rest of his high school career and pursue professional baseball.

He attended junior college at Southern Nevada. While there, he put together a monster season. He hit 31 home runs in just 66 games, shattering the previous school record of 12.

He was drafted by the Nationals the following season and the rest is, as they say, history.

Strasburg, on the other hand, had a legitimate college career. He pitched three seasons at San Diego State, compiling an impressive 22-7 record. His ERA was spectacular at 1.77.

That added experience made him a much more polished pitcher before he was drafted, making his success early on in his career much less of a surprise.

Harper's limited minor league seasoning is also a factor in calling his start more impressive than Strasburg's.

How many 19-year-olds can play in just 129 minor league games scattered over two seasons and be an All-Star their rookie seasons?

Well, technically, he's the first.

It's even more amazing when you consider the fact that Harper struggled in Triple-A Syracuse before being called up. In 72 at-bats, he was hitting just .250/.333/.375 with one home run and three RBI.

Strasburg saw immediate success in the minors, posting a 7-2 record to go along with a sparkling 1.30 ERA for Double-A Harrisburg. That success prompted a call-up by the Nationals.

Both Harper and Strasburg have started their respective careers the right way. They have seen success and have been great representatives for the sport.

Even though their careers started off differently, their ultimate goal this season is the same—to get the Nationals to the World Series.