Bryce Harper Tasting Failure in Debut, Not Ready for Arizona Fall League

by Frankie Piliere

Filed under: Nationals, Prospects, Advanced Scouting

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- It was going to happen. Bryce Harper was going to run into hurdles at the professional level. Although it's being taken for granted as simply a small stepping stone to begin his career, the fall instructional league presents a challenge to even the most gifted young players.

As it turns out, even Harper isn't above the challenges instructional league can present. Harper is no doubt rusty, as he's just a few games into the fall schedule, but there are clearly adjustments he's going to have to make. He was given a significant and early test on Saturday, getting to square off against Braves star pitching prospect Julio Teheran.

It was an interesting first look at Harper, and sometimes it can be easy to forget just how young he is. But the message here is to not get ahead ourselves when it comes to him. While he may be an impressive talent, he is not ready for competition like the Arizona Fall League later this year as some have speculated.

That is in no way a slight to his abilities. He is, quite simply, just as vulnerable as any other highly touted teenager taken in the first round. He is not super human. He has flaws and he will have to make adjustments as he advances. In that sense, he is no different than big-time draftees like Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas, who are elite hitting prospects now, but had their holes coming out of high school and were certainly not ready for a league like the AFL straight out of the draft.

 

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