Bryce Harper

Walls are undefeated against Bryce Harper . Monday's crash into the one in right field at Dodger Stadium left the Washington Nationals outfielder requiring 11 stitches. Harper definitely needs work on his fielding — his all-out approach is fine. For Harper, each at-bat is the most important of his career. He hustles on every grounder. Harper would rather risk suffering an injury in an attempt to win than wonder whether he could have done more. It's called playing the game the right way. At only 20, Harper shouldn't worry about...

S AN DIEGO — Earlier this season, the Washington Nationals exercised their option to extend General Manager Mike Rizzo's contract through the 2014 season, a move widely interpreted as a reward for Rizzo's stewardship of a franchise that ascended from losing 297 games in three seasons to a 2012 division title. But exercising the option may have created a potential fissure in the relationship between ownership and its general manager. Rather than discuss a new deal that would keep Rizzo...

The first teenage position-player All Star in decades. A bundle of nerves (and occasionally rage) whose personal standards reflect the hoopla surrounding him. A 19-year-old who swilled apple cider while his teammates drank beer and Champagne last night with the Washington team he helped lead to first place for the first time in 79 seasons. Here are excerpts from "The Bryce Harper Story: Rise of a Young Slugger," an e-book published today by the staff of The Washington Post The first thing you do is, you go over and grab one of those...

SAN DIEGO — At times during their first week out West, the Washington Nationals showed glimpses of shedding their disappointing start to this season. At times during Sunday afternoon's 13-4 dismantling at the hands of the San Diego Padres, they played as if intent on reversing any positive thrust they had gathered. The Nationals' offense showed a pulse, at least, but only after starter Dan Haren tumbled back into his troubling, early-season form and before their bullpen imploded.

LOS ANGELES — Monday night seemed close to perfect for the Washington Nationals , until it veered close to catastrophe. A blistering afternoon yielded to a warm Southern California night, Jordan Zimmermann further asserted himself as one of baseball's elite starting pitchers, Ryan Zimmerman stayed hot and first place beckoned. And then Bryce Harper was there on the Dodgers Stadium warning track , lying still on his back as trainers rushed toward him and the ballpark hushed.

According to video analysis, Bryce Harper has been bestowed the Sultan-of-Swat's legendary swing. That's right: Bryce Harper hits like Babe Ruth. This important discovery comes months after it was learned the Nationals' young slugger has Mickey Mantle's swagger and Mel Ott's morning breath. Further, it clearly illustrates the need to stop putting this kid into a box and comparing him to merely otherworldly 20-year-old baseball players, which only serves to reduce expectations. The Post instead sought out real ...

A vague memory drew me to my bookshelf to find a book published 50 years ago. I flipped pages, until I saw "The Rocky Road of Pistol Pete," by W.C. Heinz in 1958 about Pete Reiser. Then I knew what I was seeking: a story to tell Bryce Harper before it's too late to save him from himself . At age 22 in 1941, Reiser finished second for National League MVP. In just 137 games, he had 70 extra-base hits and led the league in runs (117), batting (.343), doubles (39), triples (17), total bases,...

At every level of his career, from Little League to junior college, Bryce Harper has found a way to excel and become the best player on the field. On April 28, he was unexpectedly thrust into his dream, into the major leagues at the age of 19. And over the next five months, Harper produced one of the finest seasons ever for a teenager, while many his age were in college. On Monday, the top overall pick in the 2010 draft who became a mainstay in the Washington Nationals' lineup was honored...

City business slowed dramatically Tuesday morning when Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper and team officials visited the D.C. Council to receive a ceremonial resolution. Council members, staffers and reporters crowded around Harper as he walked through the John A. Wilson Building into the council chamber. Nationals manager Davey Johnson, general manager Mike Rizzo and Marla Lerner Tanenbaum, chairwoman of the Lerner family foundation, accompanied Harper. During their visit, the council presented...

Harper is ejected in the first inning Bryce Harper was ejected in the first inning of the Nationals' 6-2 victory over the Pirates on Sunday afternoon after he drew the ire of umpiring crew chief John Hirschbeck with his reaction to a check-swing third strike. The incident left the Nationals without their best player and, owing to behavior from Hirschbeck that Manager Davey Johnson deemed overaggressive, raised the issue of contentious relations between umpires and players.

SAN DIEGO — The Washington Nationals ' lineup confronted a journeyman starting pitcher Saturday evening, and it still demanded near perfection out of Jordan Zimmermann . His offense allowed him no margin for mistakes, and in a crucial moment he made a decisive error on a simple play. Zimmermann remained unbeatable throwing the ball over the plate, until he turned and threw it to first. After a 33-year-old lefty named Eric Stults shut down the Nationals for eight innings, their 2-1 loss to the San...

SAN DIEGO — Stephen Strasburg reached something resembling a crossroads Thursday night, a game that felt more substantial than a typical mid-May start. He climbed the mound at Petco Park after four days of pointed questions about his mental strength . His Washington Nationals had lost two straight. Strasburg pitched for the first time in his hometown, not far from West Hills High and San Diego State. His father, Jim, milled behind the batting cage pregame, and 50...

SAN DIEGO — Stephen Strasburg had quite the homecoming. Pitching in front of about 50 family members and friends, Strasburg lasted a career-high eight innings against his hometown Padres to snap a seven-start winless streak, and Bryce Harper and Adam LaRoche homered to lead the Washington Nationals to a 6-2 victory against San Diego on Thursday night. "It's easy pitching in front of a lot of loved ones," Strasburg said. "It's just another place to me, to be honest. It's...

SAN DIEGO — Bryce Harper is back in the Washington Nationals' lineup three nights after running full-on into the scoreboard in right field at Dodger Stadium. The violent collision left the 20-year-old slugger with 11 stitches in his chin and a sore body. He says he feels "a little bit better" but that whole left side of his body is still sore. Harper is playing left field and batting third against the San Diego Padres. Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Walls are undefeated against Bryce Harper . Monday's crash into the one in right field at Dodger Stadium left the Washington Nationals outfielder requiring 11 stitches. Harper definitely needs work on his fielding — his all-out approach is fine. For Harper, each at-bat is the most important of his career. He hustles on every grounder. Harper would rather risk suffering an injury in an attempt to win than wonder whether he could have done more. It's called playing the game the right way. At only 20, Harper...

LOS ANGELES — The Washington Nationals fell to 4-19 at Dodger Stadium since the start of the 2006 season. They didn't get out of town without some nicks, either. Their 3-1 loss on Wednesday night was the team's fourth in five games. Bryce Harper returned as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning for the first time since cutting his chin and hurting his shoulder in a collision with the outfield wall in the series opener on Monday. He grounded out to first base. That was the...

New York Giants Manager John McGraw was once asked why he didn't let Mel Ott earn his way to the major leagues instead of bringing the kid up to the Polo Grounds just a month after his 17th birthday. "Cause I didn't want some hack ruinin' his swing," McGraw replied. "No minor league manager is gonna ruin the talent that this kid has. " Be it 1926 with Ott, 1951 with Mickey Mantle or 1989 with Ken Griffey, Jr., baseball has always had different rules for transcendent teenagers.

A vague memory drew me to my bookshelf to find a book published 50 years ago. I flipped pages, until I saw "The Rocky Road of Pistol Pete," by W.C. Heinz in 1958 about Pete Reiser. Then I knew what I was seeking: a story to tell Bryce Harper before it's too late to save him from himself . At age 22 in 1941, Reiser finished second for National League MVP. In just 137 games, he had 70 extra-base hits and led the league in runs (117), batting (.343), doubles (39), triples (17), total bases, getting hit by...

BASEBALL LOS ANGELES — Bryce Harper arrived at Dodger Stadium a little bit smarter. Less than 24 hours earlier, the 20-year-old Washington Nationals slugger ran headfirst into the right-field wall while chasing a fly ball. The violent collision left him with 11 stitches in his chin, a sore body and a lesson learned. Harper vowed to keep playing hard, but said he will learn how to avoid crashing into the fence with such force. He was set to sit out the remaining two games of Washington's series against the Los Angeles...