Harper never really addressed the matter directly, and his agent, Scott Boras, said only that Harper had an "issue he battled with."Ĭareer trend in four words: Don't believe the hype? 2015: The gold standard Sports Illustrated reported that Harper played through a shoulder injury for much of the season, although the team disputed the story. For the year, his batting average dropped 87 points, his OPS fell 295 points and his WAR went from 9.9 to 1.6. 238 (135th out of 148 qualified batters) while posting a. Coincidence or not, from May 9 - the day after the Cubs series - through the end of the regular season, a span of 116 games, Harper hit just. On the field, Harper got off to a blazing start (again), but things came to a screeching halt in early May, when he walked 13 times in a three-game series against Cubs, including six times (three intentionally) in the Sunday finale. In ESPN The Magazine's baseball preview cover story, Harper talked about bringing more style and personality to the game, raising some eyebrows by saying, "It's a tired sport because you can't express yourself." (Based on MLB's ad campaign this past postseason, Harper's message apparently struck a chord.) "Sometimes you just have to go and get him," said Harper, whose frustration with baseball's unwritten code of conduct regarding celebrations has been an ongoing sore spot.Ĭareer trend in four words: That's more like it 2016: Something's not rightĬoming off an MVP season, Harper was in position to become the undisputed face of baseball, but in the offseason he suggested the game needed a face-lift. (If Harper was trying to hit Strickland, he missed badly.) Strickland plunked Harper in apparent retaliation for a pair of long home runs Harper hit (and admired) in the playoffs two and a half years earlier, and Harper responded by charging the mound with vigor and throwing his helmet in the general vicinity of Strickland. Harper's knack for rubbing some people the wrong way was on display in May when he was part of a memorable brawl triggered by Giants reliever Hunter Strickland. 326 with 29 home runs and a 1.034 OPS, second best in baseball. At the time of the injury, Harper was hitting. Harper missed a month and a half after hyperextending his left knee when his foot slipped on a slick base. I knew I wanted to get here and put the uni on right away and just cherish that moment, if it's going to be the last time or not."Ĭareer trend in four words: Show him the money 2017: Bounce-back yearĬoming off a disappointing 2016 campaign, Harper was in the midst of a great season in 2017 that was derailed by a knee injury in August. "It's definitely something that you're not sure how you're going to react, and not sure what it's going to be like, if that's after the game, or even before. "It's definitely crazy walking in today and knowing this could be my last game at Nats Park in my white jersey," Harper said prior to Washington's final home game. 889 OPS, the third-best mark of his career, didn't scream $330 million. The 34 home runs and career-high 100 RBIs look nice, but the. 249 by season's end, and he played in a career-high 159 games, which was important for a guy whose durability has been an issue. Harper boosted his image with a crowd-pleasing win at the Home Run Derby at Nationals Park that might have lit a spark. 214 at the All-Star break, as the Nationals failed to live up to preseason expectations. How high could he drive the price tag? Despite an early power surge, Harper struggled throughout the first half of the season, hitting just. Projecting how many millions Harper would land as a free agent already had been a topic of conversation for some time, setting up the most anticipated walk year of the free-agency era. Here's a look at the first seven years of Harper's career: 2018: Market watch That, plus a personality that at times could be called volatile or arrogant, has contributed to him being a lightning rod among fans, opponents and even teammates. But in part because of injuries, he has failed to consistently meet the lofty expectations surrounding him. 1 draft pick, Harper has shown flashes of being among the most dynamic talents in the game's history. You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browserīryce Harper timeline: From prodigy to baseball's money manīryce Harper has agreed to a 13-year, $330 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, the largest deal ever for a baseball free agent.Ī high school prodigy and No.
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