Bryce Harper played 472 games at Nationals Park in Washington. On Tuesday, he’ll play his 473rd and his first as a visitor.
Bryce Harper Returns To Washington
Harper, who rose to national fame at age 16 when he was first on the cover of Sports Illustrated, remains the most polarizing figure in baseball. At 26, he found a superstar payday and headed two hours north to Philadelphia, joining the Washington Nationals’ division rivals, the Phillies.
Harper knows how the return could go. “I’m sure some cheers, some boos, as well,” he said. “It’s part of the game. It’s part of sports. I’ll always remember and cherish all the screaming and yelling and the exciting times that we had there.”
In fact, the D.C. mayor, Muriel Bowser, commented on his return in a now-deleted tweet. She posted a picture that depicted Harper as the revolutionary war traitor, Benedict Arnold.
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Harper returns to DC in the midst of a hot streak. He has contributed to a 3-0 start with a pair of homers and four walks and seems to get a standing ovation each time he appears on the field.
The Nationals, on the other hand, are 1-2, tormented by opposing fans chanting “Where is Harper?” despite his young outfield replacement, Victor Robles, hitting .455 with four extra-base hits.
Hours before the game, Harper issued a message on Instagram to the fans. It began, “If you would have told me 5 years ago I would be walking into Nationals Park as an opposing player, I would’ve told you that you were crazy. Five years later, I’m doing just that. I remember the first day I walked into Nats Park. My first base hit. My first home run. And, of course, my first standing ovation. Nationals fans delivered that first ovation.”
He then thanks the staff and workers at the ballpark as well as the franchise’s management. Harper discusses what made DC feel like home to him and pledges that he’ll continue “Harpers Heroes with LLS in the DMV as well as making sure the legacy fields bearing my name are the best youth fields in town!”
He ended the message thanking the fans. He wrote, “When I run on the field tonight I am sure to hear some boos, but I will always remember the cheers and the screams that are still with me right now, as I start my new chapter. So for that, DC, THANK YOU.”
Barring a change to how MLB makes their schedules, Harper could play as many as 117 games at Nationals Park during the span of his 13-year contract with Philadelphia. Over time, it could become just another stop. On Tuesday, it certainly won’t be.
