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Bryce Harper Blows Off Washington Nationals Fan Fest Amid Grievance

By Patrick Schmidt

Oct 7, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper hits a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants in the 7th inning during game four of the 2014 NLDS baseball playoff game at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 7, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper hits a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants in the 7th inning during game four of the 2014 NLDS baseball playoff game at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper did not show up for the team’s NatsFest fan festival on Saturday and that drew the ire of the team’s general manager Mike Rizzo.

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Bryce Harper did not show up for the National’s annual fan festival on Saturday and that left general manager Mike Rizzo “disappointed” the fan favorite would miss an opportunity to participate and show up and make a number of fans happy to see young slugger.

Rizzo thinks there are ulterior motives for Harper’s absence and thinks an upcoming grievance filed on his behalf from the MLB Players Association over whether he can void the 2015 terms in the last year of his five-year, $9.9 million deal he signed after the Nationals made him the No. 1 overall pick of the MLB Draft.

“We’re disappointed he’s not here, but he chose not to be here because of the grievance,” Rizzo said, via ESPN.com.

Harper wouldn’t disclose the reason for his absence but one of his agent’s employees emailed a statement on his behalf.

“I have attended NatsFest each year and always enjoy my experience with the fans, but was unable to attend this year’s event due to matters out of my control. I look forward to next year’s NatsFest.”

Matters out of my control can be interpreted in the same manner that Rizzo interpreted them and he’s not showing up to give the fans a great experience over details in his contract.

If I was a fan who paid to attend the fan fest and Harper wasn’t there, I wouldn’t be disappointed like Rizzo, I would be pissed off, and I imagine there are plenty of Nats fans who feel that way about the brash young slugger.

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