Bryce Harper and "The Mick"

   On Sunday the Washington Nationals sent Bryce Harper, their 19 year old phenom, to AAA Syracuse.  This spring he was in the process of moving from right field to center to make the club full of talent in the outfield, but fell a little short.  He just needs more professional experience before he is ready for the Major Leagues, and his demotion to the minors shouldn't have any negative impact on this sometimes overconfident young man.  Starting the season in the minors will fine tune his great talents and help this already special ballplayer on his path to a level only few Major Leaguers reach in their careers.  Harper has already been on the cover of Sports Illustrated when he was 16 years old, has converted from catcher to the outfield without any problem, has won numerous awards, and has been compared to one of his idols, Mickey Mantle.  In fact Harper chose to wear number 34 because 3 plus 4 is 7 the same number Mantle wore when he played for the Yankees.  All this and Harper is still only 19 with the confidence, work ethic, and raw talent to someday soon start to make a prominent impact in the Major Leagues.  He is also smart enough not to let this little speed bump distract him, it will only make this very good ballplayer great when it is time and he gets the call to join the big team.
   The comparisons being made between Bryce Harper and his idol Mickey Mantle goes beyond that of his talents on the field.  There was obviously no way that Harper has ever seen Mantle play except in old baseball films, but as special a player that Harper will become Mickey Mantle was just as special in the 1950's and 1960's.  Just like Harper, Mickey Mantle joined the New York Yankees in spring training when he was 19 years old.  Mantle impressed manager Casey Stengel and was assigned to the Yankees as a right fielder because centerfield was already occupied by Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio.  Mantle was said to be Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Joe DiMaggio rolled into one and was even assigned uniform number 6, (Ruth-3, Gehrig-4, DiMaggio-5, now Mantle 6).  After Mantle went into a slump to start the season he was demoted to the Yankees top farm team in Kansas City.  The pressure of playing in the big leagues and being compared to Hall of Fame talent proved to be too much for a 19 year old to handle, and he even considered quitting baseball.  His father talked him out of it, telling him that if he wanted to quit he could come back to Oklahoma and work in the mines.  Shortly after that "talk" with his father, Mantle broke out of his slump and the rest is history.  The demotion almost ended a career before it had a chance to develop.  If Mantle would have went back to Oklahoma the glorious history of baseball in the 1950's and 60's would not nearly be the same.
   Harper is trying to make the transition from right field to center because right is already occupied by high priced talent, Jayson Werth.  His talents have already been compared to Mickey Mantle and is arguably the best prospect since Ken Griffey Jr.  Harper, however, has an advantage over Mantle because he will not be rushed into the Major Leagues.  He will go through injuries and slumps throughout his career, but the pressure of playing in the big leagues, with the fans and media dissecting every move that he makes, will be more manageable after going through the maturing process at all levels in the minors.  He will get more at bats against professional pitching and will eventually be an impact player at baseball's highest level.  Baseball almost missed out on one of the best players ever, and the Nationals management should be given credit for taking special care with the development of their great prospect.  Mickey Mantle proved that he was human, but also with his determination and courage proved everybody right when he made his impact on the game.  Bryce Harper is a long way from being Mickey Mantle but the comparisons are too close to ignore.  Harper is a "can't miss" Major Leaguer, and maybe someday he will prove everyone right by making his impact on the game just like Mantle did 60 years ago.