Bryce Harper Update: Washington Nationals GM Mike Rizzo Goes To Nevada

The Washington Nationals have made several moves over the past week indicating that their interest in Bryce Harper is extremely high, and they may be zeroing in on the 17-year-old phenom.

In 51 games Harper is batting .417/.507/.899 with 21 homers, 64 RBI and 16 stolen bases. He has been the most valuable player on a club that has gone 42-10 this season.

Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports that Nats General Manager Mike Rizzo flew to Las Vegas to watch Harper play this weekend. Harper went 4-for-6 in two games this weekend, scoring three runs and driving in two more. Rizzo told Bill Ladson of MLB.com:

"He played great. He has great energy, great tools, and he is one of the five or six guys we are talking about taking with the first pick. He has great bat speed and great leverage power. He is already comfortable with the wooden bat."

Analysis

Regardless of whether or not the Nationals are going to take Harper, Rizzo wouldn't be doing his job if he didn't go and watch the player who is widely considered the most valuable prospect in the draft. The Nats GM, however, has insisted that they have no questions about his makeup (seemingly Harper's biggest downside), and that they are impressed with his ability.