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The Next Big Thing?


Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci has a cover story on Las Vegas HS CA Bryce Harper that is well worth the read.

Harper has been hyped as the prohibitive favorite to go #1 over in 2011 when he becomes eligible for the MLB draft. But Verducci drops an intriguing idea in the article

What the Harpers are considering, however, is having Bryce earn a GED credential this summer and enroll in a junior college this fall, which would expose him to more challenging baseball competition as well as make him eligible for next June’s draft, in which he would likely be the first pick in the country. Under that scenario, assuming the Nationals keep losing games at something close to their current rate (they have the worst record in baseball, and it isn’t even close), Washington could wind up with Strasburg and Harper in the next 12 months—the baseball equivalent of the Cavaliers getting James and Dwight Howard in consecutive NBA drafts.

That was certainly be an interesting turn of events and given the current performance of the big league team, the 2010 #1 overall pick is “well within reach.”

Keep in mind that the Nationals drafted his older brother Bryan out of high school in the 31st round of the 2008 draft, so suffice it to say they’ve been around Bryce.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009, 11:29 AM and is filed under Draft. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

  1. #1 by John - June 3rd, 2009 at 11:42

    Thanks Brian. I wonder if the Nats floated this idea through Bryan last year.

    I’m thinking I might take him over Ranuado;) This would obviously be huge. Let’s hope it happens.

  2. #2 by cjrugger - June 3rd, 2009 at 11:57

    Wow, that would be amazing. No way Im gonna get excited about it until I see him on a JUCO roster tho

  3. #3 by John - June 3rd, 2009 at 12:06

    The article sounds like he and his parents really want to do it. I hope it happens. That would be too exciting.

  4. #4 by Todd - June 3rd, 2009 at 12:23

    A top prospect is thinking about going out of his way to come TO the Nationals? Wow. Its like the anti-Crow.

  5. #5 by rukidding - June 3rd, 2009 at 12:35

    If this does happen would either Bryce or D. Norris change positions? I keep hearing that Norris needs to work on his catching, however if Bryce is good behind the plate maybe Derek could move to 1st?

  6. #6 by longterm - June 3rd, 2009 at 12:41

    this is crazy… but i hope it’s true!

  7. #7 by John - June 3rd, 2009 at 12:46

    I would want to move Harper to another position like SS (which he has played in HS). With that bat, I want him in everyday.

  8. #8 by Berndaddy - June 3rd, 2009 at 12:53

    What an addition to the team. If Norris continues his good play and moves to say 1st. Zimm at 3rd. Flores at Catcher. Dukes in RF. I’d say you can see the beginnings of a good team to come. I see it without the kid, but hey we can only dream. If we have to live through another bad season this year more the better if he’s waiting at #1, eh.

  9. #9 by Andrew S. - June 3rd, 2009 at 12:55

    I’m trying to contain my excitement, because there are obviously still a lot of things that have to go right for this to happen (he has to get his GED, enroll in JuCo, etc.), but that would be INCREDIBLE if we could get this kid.

  10. #10 by hleeo3 - June 3rd, 2009 at 13:08

    That would be Christmas come early.

  11. #11 by Hoagie - June 3rd, 2009 at 13:34

    You don’t switch either away from catcher until both are in the majors/high minors. Never a good idea to weaken catching depth.

  12. #12 by Ronny - June 3rd, 2009 at 14:02

    I told you. I said the other day this kid should find a way to forego his senior year of high school and inter the 2010 draft. Because there is no way we will have the 1st overall pick in 2011 after having it 2 years in a row. I’am so happy his family is pushing for this to happen. God I hope this becomes a fact and God I hope we continue to lose.

  13. #13 by longterm - June 3rd, 2009 at 14:03

    wouldn’t it be in boras’s best interest to help establish washington as another competitive big money franchise? funnel the studs our way please.

  14. #14 by Dick - June 3rd, 2009 at 18:40

    That’s cruel, dude, for posting this! I’ve waited over a year, wishing for losses, to get Strasburg. Now that we only have two months, 12 days and a little over 5 hours before we get him, this comes out! When does it stop?

  15. #15 by Kyle - June 4th, 2009 at 08:56

    Here’s a link to a home run hitting contest featuring the 502′ shot that was referenced in the article. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liS3kGvQ9Bk&NR=1

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