Bryce Harper Pulls Up on Fly Ball, Says His Days of Running into Walls Are Over

There was a time when Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper would sacrifice his body for the sake of the team. But in reality, his all-out effort did more harm than good because a player can't help his team if he's not in the lineup.

Nowadays, Harper is not going to be crashing into walls just to save a run or two during a game in May.

On Saturday, the 23-year-old found himself chasing a fly ball that had him charging toward the right field foul line at Wrigley Field. The Friendly Confines are not so friendly for outfielders because of the brick wall at the fence and the lack of foul territory down the lines.

Rather than put himself in harm's way, Harper pulled up as he tried to make the catch. As a result, two runs scored to give the Chicago Cubs a 7-5 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Chicago held on for an 8-5 win and will go for the series sweep Sunday. However, the 2015 National League MVP had no regrets, per Mark Zuckerman of MASN:

"

I'm not going to run into the wall, plain and simple. Got as close as I could and put my glove out and (the ball) nicked off it. Things happen. I'm not going to do it again—run into a wall—and I'm not playing for another year and not feeling healthy. I'd rather be in the lineup every day. That's just not going to happen.

"

Harper also has finances to consider. He recently agreed to a 10-year contract extension with Under Armour that is "believed to be the largest endorsement deal in history for a baseball player," according to Darren Rovell of ESPN.

He could also be in line for a $400 million contract when he becomes a free agent after the 2018 season.

Fans may be upset with the loss for a day or two, but in the grand scheme of things, it's better for Harper to protect himself rather than risk injury for one game.

[MLB.com]