No. 1 pick will head to instructional camp
The negotiating process with No. 1 draft pick Bryce Harper has finally ended. But now the Nationals have another big question on their hands: Where does he go?
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Harper is expected to meet with the Washington, D.C. media for the first time next week during the Nats’ seven-game homestand. From there he heads to Viera, Fla., and the organization’s spring training complex, where he could conceivably see action in a few Gulf Coast League games — the lowest level of minor league baseball.
But the GCL Nats have just 10 games left and their season ends Aug. 28. Single-A Vermont, the organization’s short-season team, finishes Sept. 5. Even if the Lake Monsters make the playoffs — they are in first place — the New York-Penn League is an unlikely destination for the 17-year-old Harper.
Instead, Washington conducts an instructional league in Viera later in September for its younger prospects. Stephen Strasburg made his first appearance in a Nats uniform there and Harper will remain in Florida and do the same.
Harper’s contract was a major league deal, meaning he had to be immediately put on Washington’s 40-man roster. To make room the team placed right-handed starting pitcher Luis Atilano on the 60-day disabled list. He underwent elbow surgery earlier this month and is out for the season.
Another chance for Harper to get some at-bats is at the Arizona Fall League, where a few top prospects from each major league team gather in October and November. Strasburg pitched there last year. But he was a 21-year-old with three years of college experience.
“There’s an outside possibility we could do that,” Nats general manager Mike Rizzo said. “But we want to evaluate and see if Bryce is ready for that fairly advanced league after just getting his feet wet in professional baseball.”
The Nats at least gave themselves that option when they promoted outfielder Michael Burgess to Double-A Harrisburg earlier this week. Burgess, 21, had 12 homers at Single-A Potomac and was an obvious candidate for extra at-bats in Arizona. An organization can send just one of its players below Double-A to the Arizona Fall League.
