Imagine every positive, hyperbole laced adjective you heard about Stephen Strasburgh. Convert those statements from pitcher to hitter and you get Bryce Harper. The almost legendary prospect (dropping out of high school to go to junior college to be entered in the baseball draft a year early, record smashing homers, etc) will be taking his talents to the field in the Nationals first Spring Training game of the year against the Mets.
Harper isn't in the starting lineup, but he will be one of the first substitutions in the game playing either Right Field or Left Field.
There are probably a few of you out there that just read that statement with a, “What? I thought he was a catcher?” It looks the Nationals are trying him out in the OF because they think they can increase the longevity of his bat with a position move. The merits of that are something a little outside of what I'm comfortable discussing (I don't know enough about strength and conditioning, although I do know catcher is the most accident prone position).
Also, Jesus Flores, former Met organization catcher, will also be playing today – In an effort to remind us that the Nationals for a period of time was the home of a lexicon of Mets players. He is, of course, blocked in the organization by Wilson Ramos who will be starting today. We also will not be seeing Jason Werth, who is not in the starting lineup.
Looks like it should be an interesting one today. Game on SNY at 1.
