Relationships between players and coaches in baseball are important. Charlie Manuel was able to be so successful in Philadelphia in part because of tremendous relationships with Jim Thome, Jimmy Rollins and Roy Halladay, among others. It appears current manager Gabe Kapler left a positive impression on one of the game’s biggest stars.
As Fancred‘s Jon Heyman reported, free-agent Bryce Harper and Kapler “hit it off” during their meeting on Saturday in Las Vegas. Heyman noted that both are “intense.”
It’s certainly interesting that Kapler may now be seen as a positive component in the recruiting for Harper.