After playing the outfield every day for 10 seasons, an elbow injury has forced Bryce Harper into a role that's 'different than anything I’ve ever done in my life.'
After playing the outfield every day for 10 seasons, Bryce Harper always figured he would need to adjust to being a designated hitter, especially as it evolved from a temp job to one that he may hold down through at least the All-Star break.“I never wanted to be in that mode of, ‘Oh, he’s in the clubhouse,’” Harper said the other day before a game in Seattle. “It’s like that young 19-year-old.
, an injury that is prevalent among pitchers and often necessitates the procedure known as “Tommy John” surgery. Harper will get an injection Sunday. He won’t try to throw for four more weeks. “It’s a lot different than anything I’ve ever done in my life,” Harper said. “I’m trying to learn what kind of works for me. Not swinging too much where my hands hurt. Not watching too much video where I’m going crazy, because I’ve never been the video-type person. It’s whatever works for you to be the best hitter you can.”
As a right fielder, Harper said, he’s able to forget about a frustrating at-bat by chasing down a fly ball in the gap or making a strong throw to a base. He described the mentality as, “If I’m not going to get a hit, nobody’s going to get a hit,” and it has served him well. He may never win a Gold Glove, although he has saved eight runs more than the average outfielder over his career.
Growing up, Harper’s talent separated him from most of his peers. In 2009, he even took his GED, left high school after two years, and enrolled in junior college to face older competition. He was a phenom in every sense, making it nearly impossible to blend in. His best chance was to be a supportive teammate, and that meant being involved in the game even from the bench.
Harper’s desire to remain in the dugout throughout the game is so strong that he agreed to an extended mic’d-up segment on ESPN’son April 24. He was scheduled to join the telecast for the third inning but stayed on through much of the rest of the game, removing his earpiece and microphone only when it was time to prepare for an at-bat.