From his MLB debut to winning the Home Run derby, Harper's time in D.C. certainly wasn't boring.
By Scott Allen Scott Allen Reporter covering D.C. pro and local college sports Email Bio Follow February 28 at 3:53 PM Bryce Harper agreed to a record-setting 13-year, $330 million contract with the Phillies on Thursday, ending his four-month free agency. Nationals fans won’t have to wait long for their first visit from Harper in a Phillies uniform, as Philadelphia visits Nationals Park for a two-game series on April 2-3.
“It became a perfect storm, truly,” Harper later said of the play. “It was just like, boom, boom, boom. One thing happened, one thing happened, and it led to the steal of home. Fans were going crazy. The team was going crazy. I don’t know if Tracy was very excited, because he had an RBI chance against Hamels. It was fun. It was a cool opportunity. I’m actually kind of happy now that he did drill me, so I could have that opportunity.
“I’m serious, I couldn’t care less about whether it went over the fence or if it was a double off the wall,” Harper said after the first walk-off home run of his major league career. “I don’t really remember any of the play. I kind of do. But I’m just very happy that we won the ballgame.
Harper’s blast is marked with a red seat at Nationals Park. Harper would hit another home run off Strickland four days later, this one into McCovey Cove at San Francisco’s AT&T Park. Strickland was so bothered that Harper had the nerve to take a moment to admire his no-doubters on the way to first base that he decided to hit him with a pitch to spark a brawl when they faced off again in 2017.
“I went over there and said, ‘Hey, toss me the phone and I’ll do it for you,’ ” Harper told the AP, describing the photo as “pretty good.” “It was pretty awesome,” Harper said. “It was my mom’s birthday today, so being able to hit her a homer was definitely huge. I love these fans. I love this organization. It’s a thrill to be able to do it in front of the home crowd, and I’m glad I was able to do it here." 16. Aug. 24, 2016: Katie Ledecky’s human medal rack
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