OKAY, I'm sold. Bryce Harper is winning the National League Best Player award this year. It's the only reasonable conclusion to draw after what Harper did in the Washington Nationals' season-opening 2-0 make an impression on the Miami Marlins. The 20-year-old slugging outfielder provided both of Washington's runs with a set of solo house runs to right. In the event that you missed just one of these, MLB.com gets the moving pictures. The first just hardly cleared the fence, while the seats were reached by the second with lots of space to spare. The house group appreciated both of these equally, although Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco was none too happy. Make no mistake, we did only see the start of something unique, and the finish will involve Harper walking away with an MVP award in his clutches. Ron Carr/Getty Photos Right now, I'm wondering many have previously bolted straight down to the remarks section with the phrase "overreaction" and itsAderivativesAin head. Here is the Internet, in the end. But listed here is the truth: I'm perhaps not overreacting.AAll I'm doing is staying true to my National League MVP forecast for the season. I tabbed Harper as my MVP pick in a movie I did the other day and, naturally, caught with him when it had been time for myself and my fellow B/R writers to turn within our picksAfor a combined review. So really, what I am doing here is puffing out my chest, popping my collar and many other things that arrogant jerks have a tendency to do.ASorry, but the immediate gratification is just too good, and there is not question in my own mind that Harper isn't done wowing us this season. Consider back to what he did as a 19-year-old novice this past year. He set up a.270/.340/.477 batting line with 22 homers and 18 stolen bases, figures that have been good enough to make the National League Rookie to him of the Entire Year. BATTLE arranged that Harper deserved it, as he ranked as the most useful rookie in the NL by both Baseball-Reference.com'sAand FanGraphs'Areckoning. This is impressive enough, but Harper's success last time gets much more impressive when you take a peek at things from two different sides. First and foremost, there is actually no overstating how ridiculous it is that Harper did what he did as a freakin' 19-year-old. That's an age when the majority are adjusting alive without mom and dad away at college. As far as ballplayers go, that's an age when most are toiling away in the lower levels of the minor leagues. It's not an age that goes hand-in-hand with stardom in the The Show. Per Baseball-Reference.com, the highest WAR was posted by Harper ever by way of a 19-year-old. Just Tony Conigliaro hit more homers at the age of 19, but Harper stole 16 more bases than he did and enjoyed the majority of his activities at a premium defensive position: center field. Greg Fiume/Getty Photos He played perfectly there, too, publishing a UZR and 13 Defensive Runs Saved (see FanGraphs). Most readily useful period ever by way of a 19-year-old? You bet. What is much more absurd is how Harper was barely treated by opposing pitchers. Per FanGraphs, only two hitters saw less fastballs to hit than he did in 2012: Josh Hamilton and Alfonso Soriano.AThe kid got many different curveballs, sliders andAchangeupsa'off-speed pitches also the most seasoned veterans have dreams about. Harper had his battles, but he thought things out ultimately. In his last 44 activities, he placed a line and hit 12 home runs. That is a 45-homer year over a 162-game sample size. Harper came into the category while the most hyped probability in the future along in a very number of years. He was as a was the guy who was picked No the guy who was on the cover of Sports Illustrated. 1 over all this season. He was the man who was often being in comparison to all-time greats like Mickey Mantle. He was the man with allAthe potential, and that is what we got a view of down the stretch in his rookie season. Within the offseason, Harper visited work with further untapping his potential, lifting every large weight in sight and reporting to camp 20 pounds heavier. Then he proceeded to rake during the spring, publishing a.478/.500/.716 batting line with three homers. You typically don't want to pay spring training figures a lot of head, but Harper's hot spring had the look of the next phase on his path to superstardom. And now here he's sitting on a set of critical home runs one game into the 2013 year. It's early, however you need to look at Harper's Opening Day performance as the latest chapter of an extended account. It'd a slow start, but we are engaging in the great stuff. Think a baseball version of The Avengers: lots of nonsense, lots of "meh" and then lots of "woah." There is plenty more good stuff to come from Harper, and not merely by means of the long ball. He's going to be a critical section of many more Nationals benefits, leading the group to a different postseason appearance. Also in his future: The Absolute Most Valuable Player award. I had it down in pencil before Opening Day, and now I'm about willing to have a hammer and chisel it in to the Great Pyramid of Giza and all four of the presidents' faces on Mount Rushmore. Or I could only invite every last among you up to speed the train. When Harper is known as the National League MVP much later this season, we could all proudlyAboastAthat we saw it coming. Do not fear, you can believe me. I've never had an Opening Day MVP affirmation go south on me before. Just don't ask how many I've made. Note: Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted. If you would like to talk baseball, hit me through to Twitter.
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