(Bryce Harper took batting practice in Vegas with a 36 inch, 47 ounce bat?Screengrab via YouTube.)
Another Winter day, another offseason batting practice session by Bryce Harper at Bat-R-Up Batting Cages in Las Vegas. The latest video clip (from Tuesday) shows Bryce Harper swinging the biggest bat on earth -- or so the title of the YouTube clip by user VegasScout says. The bat looks huge -- according to the handle, 36 inches, 47 ounces (keep in mind that according to baseball lore, Babe Ruth once used a 52 ounce bat). Harper's bat also has Luke 1:37 inscribed on the barrel. That is: "For with God nothing shall be impossible."
Sounds like the Nationals will try to keep Bryce Harper under wraps this spring just like Strasburg before him; so he'll just have to let his big bat do the talking. Enjoy:
Meanwhile...
Justin Maxwell traded to the Yankees for RHP Adam Olbrychowski.
The best Nationals blog out there (Nationals Baseball, written by a guy named Harper, no less) tallies up the Peter Angelos vs. Ted Lerner scorecard.
AWESOME! Half man, half AMAZING!
Posted by: Harper_ROY_2012 | February 03, 2011 at 10:49 AM
I really like this kid as he already reminds me of legendary players. If he hustles like Pete Rose, has the heart of a kid, the eye of Ted Williams, and the mind of a champion like Derek Jeter, he will be my perfect player.
It is amazing that Ted Williams essentially had his best career years at 23 and 39 years old and many great seasons in between. Ted Williams in 1941 at 23 years old hit .406 with a .553 OBP and then at 39 years old hit .388 with a .526 OBP.
When Bryce Harper talks about hitting drills it is the eye of Ted Williams. Both are lefties but throw right. Both 6'3" with amazing bat speed.
Ted Williams broke into the Majors at 20 years old. Harper is now 18.
My one bit of advice for Bryce is plate discipline and work the counts. In Williams rookie year he had 107 walks in 149 games! That is what Bryce needs to learn in the Minors, PLATE DISCIPLINE.
Posted by: Michael L.G. | February 03, 2011 at 11:15 AM
Is this title sexual?
Posted by: Harper Gordek | February 03, 2011 at 11:54 AM
(lol to the last post) i think Harper might be the next D.C. athlete to deserve the "Meast" nick name. half man half beast.
Posted by: David Stewart | February 03, 2011 at 02:28 PM
Ah, come on, Gordek! Get your mind out of the gutter!
Posted by: The Nationals Enquirer | February 03, 2011 at 07:04 PM