As reported by CBS Eye on Baseball, in Wednesday night’s game against the West Virginia Power, first-tier Washington Nationals prospect Bryce Harper was involved in a bench-clearing incident which luckily didn’t turn into anything more than some jaw-flapping.
Harper reportedly hit a massive home run off of Power starter Tyler Waldron in the first inning, later sriking out looking on his next at bat– triggering a stare down with Waldron which escalated into a screaming match, clearing both teams’ benches.
This is the first public incident for Harper, who has developed a reputation during his time as a high school and junior college player as having a hot head and short temper.
Hopefully an incident like this one was a one-off situation caused by posturing between both young players and isn’t a sign of things to come for the promising young Nationals prospect.
After all, Harper does have the eyes of the Nationals’ faithful squarely on his back–watching every move–and hoping that the substantial investment the team has made in him (and pitcher Stephen Strasburg)– eventually pays off down the road.