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Former Nationals utilityman Willie Harris makes mark as minor-league manager

Willie Harris hit the first inside-the-park homer at Nationals Park, connecting for Washington in 2010. He also hit a leadoff homer, walk-off homer and grand slam during three seasons with the Nationals.

But the former Nationals outfielder/infielder also has vivid memories of something that happened during batting practice at Nationals Park involving Mark Lerner, now the principal owner of the team.

“He would come down and take flyballs,” recalls Harris, 40, who broke into the majors with the Orioles in 2001. “One day he missed a ball and it hit him in the face.