HARPER IS LOCKED IN EARLY

Bryce Harper has always been a fast starter. He has had great Aprils the past three seasons. In 2015 he smacked five home runs in April on his way to an MVP season. The last two Aprils he hit nine a piece, but injuries slowed down his season. This year, he’s hit three already in just four games and is yet to strike out while slashing .417/.550/1.167. The question is, which Harper will we see this year? When he’s healthy, he is automatically in the MVP discussion. His swing is that elite and he is one of the most exciting personalities in the league. But can he stay on the field this year? The Nationals have a great roster again, but they’ll be no threat to other NL powerhouses without Harper for any extended periods. But Bryce’s heath will have a bigger influence on baseball at large than the Nationals. Harper is in his contract year and has the potential to shatter the free agent records for the biggest deals of all time. If he is healthy and puts up MVP-like numbers this year like we all expect him to, he could be looking at a $400 million pay day next winter. There’s no doubt he’s worth it in today’s market and there will be plenty of teams willing to dish out a long term deal for the young superstar. But another injury-riddled season could scare some of those teams off. He needs to prove he can be healthy, even if that means toning it down a touch. I don’t want to see Harper running through any walls this year, he’s too valuable to the game. Let’s see if we get 2015 Bryce again, I hope he sets the league on fire.