Prospect Info and Scouting Report Bryce Harper / OF, WAS Born 10/16/1992 Las Vegas, NV, USA School: College of Southern Nevada Height 6-3 Weight 205 Bats/Throws R/R ScoutingBook Combine Ranking (5/14/2012): #1 none MLB.com/MiLB.com Season Preview: #2 Scout.com/FOX Sports: #3 ESPN: #2 The Sporting News: Unranked or n/a Baseball America 2012: #1 Baseball Prospectus: #2 There's not much more to say about Bryce Harper that hasn't already been reprinted hundreds of times. The young phenom is probably the best hitting prospect since Alex Rodriguez, and that's after we disregard the 96mph fastball he can throw as a pitcher. If his 560-foot home runs are any indication, Harper is a generational talent who should blossom into a star major league player under the right tutelage. A catcher for most of his teenaged life, he was officially designated for outfield duty hours after being drafted by the Nationals. The less-demanding defensive work will preserve his body and also shorten his path to the majors, where we expect to see him take over right field in Washington for a decade or so. Since signing, Harper has done nothing to disappoint on the field, continuing to dominate pitchers in pro ball and continuing to dent stadium parking lots around the minor leagues. He did look a little more mortal in AA toward the end of last season, but that only proves that the kid is human: he was still eighteen, after all. No matter how good he looks early (and he might look very good), we expect the team will keep him in the minors until at least mid-June to prevent his expensive arbitration clock from starting too soon. That said, it's hard to imagine that the Nationals will be able to hold him down in the minors for the entire season, especially if he keeps being Bryce F.Harper. So no matter whether it's June or September, we should get a look at him in Washington this year. Of course, it's still 2013 that will be his real superstar-level opening opportunity. --

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