Somehow we find ourselves back here again. Several years removed from Jonathan Papelbon’s attempt to instill some discipline in young Nationals’ star Bryce Harper, a perceived lack of hustle on the part of Washington’s 24-year-old slugger is making headlines.
In the fifth inning of last night’s 4-2 loss to the New York Mets in Citi Field, Harper came to the plate against hard-throwing right-hander Noah Syndergaard with two men on and one out after singles by both Adam Eaton and Anthony Rendon, and Harper hit a 96 mph first-pitch fastball out to short where Amed Rosario started an inning-ending 6-4-3 DP.