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Nats go with Bryce Harper first. Not a shock.

The only questions in my mind are how long he'll stay with catching and if the Nats will be able to sign him. Can putting a 17-year old kid in RF today be worse than the .200 average Nats rightfielders have compiled this year in any case?

He just got interviewed by MLB network. Said he'll play anywhere, nothing much else of note.

I would bet major money that Harper plays in the OF ASAP.

That, by far, would be his quickest route to DC if he proves he can hit.

He's a rightfielder it looks like, so I would expect him to be up in 2013. Gammons said he's a lock for 500 home runs. That's a big statement that I wouldn't make this soon.

Rafael122 wrote:He's a rightfielder it looks like, so I would expect him to be up in 2013. Gammons said he's a lock for 500 home runs. That's a big statement that I wouldn't make this soon.

God, tell me about it.

Kid looks great though. I'm not really worried about his so-called attitude, either, he's 17.

He and Zimmerman would likely be a helluva righty/lefty combo for much if not all of this decade.

Pro ball is going to be quite a step up from facing Juco pitching so it will be interesting to see how long it takes for him to get to the big leagues. If he's as good as projected he should be on the field about this time two years from now, that would put him at 19 which was the age when Griffey came up.

Rafael122 wrote:He's a rightfielder it looks like, so I would expect him to be up in 2013. Gammons said he's a lock for 500 home runs. That's a big statement that I wouldn't make this soon.

Tell Gammons that NOBODY is a lock for anything coming out of the baseball draft.

FYI- can anybody name a pitcher that was drafted 1st in the MLB draft that has won 20 games in a season?

Answer- you can't, because no #1 pick has ever been a 20 game winner.

I don't understand why you would move him from catcher?

He could make a far bigger impact on the game as a C then as a RF'r.

Hendrix wrote:I don't understand why you would move him from catcher?

He could make a far bigger impact on the game as a C then as a RF'r.

A couple of reasons; the first being a quicker ascension to MLB, and the second for career longevity.

craig01 wrote:

Hendrix wrote:I don't understand why you would move him from catcher?

He could make a far bigger impact on the game as a C then as a RF'r.

A couple of reasons; the first being a quicker ascension to MLB, and the second for career longevity.

I'm not really sure how far away he is defensivly @ C. But lets say for arguments sake he's a 1.000ops guy. Replacment RF'r is .780ops. And replacment C is .650ops. Wouldn't you want a 1.000 + .780 ops C/RF combo over a 1.000 + .650ops C/RF combo?

Would it really hurt his longevity that much? Pudge has 20 years. And there's always the option of heading over to 1b after "x" years, or DH.

Link to Nats selections:

http://www.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y20 ... =TM&fv=was

Two pitchers, two shortstops with the next two picks after Harper.

Tyler Hanks also a Nats' selection, coincidentally from the College of Southern Nevada!!!!!!!

Well look at that Bryce!!! Friend....friend.....