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Is this the year Bryce Harper finally contends for MVP?

By Connor Muldowney

May 10, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) reacts after missing a pitch against the Atlanta Braves during the game at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
May 10, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) reacts after missing a pitch against the Atlanta Braves during the game at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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It hasn’t been long, but even in Bryce Harper’s short career in the majors, people have given him the label of “bust.” Is this the year he finally sheds that label?

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When you look around baseball, there’s not one guy who receives as much criticism for a 22-year-old as Nationals‘ slugger Bryce Harper does. The fourth-year player came into the league as one of the most highly-touted prospects in recent memory — even being compared to all-time greats.

Harper hasn’t done a whole lot to live up to that billing, however, as he has yet to play a full season in the major, never appearing in more than 139 games.

Many expected him to be a consistent 30-homer, 100-RBI a year type of player, but he has a hard time staying healthy and living up to the ridiculous expectations.

Bryce was hoping for a breakout season and to stay healthy in 2015 and he has done just that so far, leading the league in home runs with 11 and is one of the top RBI men with 28. In his past four games, Harper has hit six home runs and recorded 13 RBI while going 10-for-16 at the plate.

On the year, Harper is hitting .300 with 11 home runs and 28 RBI — on pace to hit over 55 homers and drive in about 140 RBI. That would be quite the season for a guy looking to shut the doubters up.

This has many people asking: is this the year he finally breaks out as a superstar?

The answer is quite simple: yes.

Harper has already eclipsed his best monthly numbers of his career in just a week and he’s swinging the bat with more confidence than he ever has. He’s bigger this year than he has been in years past and he’s priding himself on sculpting his body as well as his game.

Why is Harper seeing so much success this season compared to others? According to the Washington Post, Harper is hitting over 35 percent of his fly balls out of the park, more than doubling that number from past seasons.

The power behind his swing is improving, and that shows that if he puts the ball in the air, there’s a 33 percent chance it will be leaving the stadium.

Harper is also being much more patient at the plate, drawing 27 walks, recording an on-base percentage of .435 on the year — his highest career mark by about 100 points. Waiting for the right pitch and jumping on it, Harper is making the most of his at-bats and getting on base nearly one out of every two times at the plate.

There’s a reason he’s seeing so much success, and it’s because he’s finally learning how to excel as an everyday superstar.

Watch out, baseball, there’s a new superstar blooming.

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