Bryce Harper not yet a leader for the Nationals

Bryce Harper may have won the NL MVP award, yet still doesn’t see himself as a leader of the Washington Nationals.

On Monday morning, Washington Nationals star outfielder and reigning National League MVP Bryce Harper spoke with the media in the dugout of Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Florida. While he is the youngest MVP in MLB history, Harper still doesn’t think he is a team leader.

He told ESPN Senior Writer Eddie Matz, “I don’t think I’m a leader. I think I’m more just a guy playing the game. I think that J-Dub [Jayson Werth] and Zimm [Ryan Zimmermann] and all those guys are leaders, those guys that are going to go about it every single day and do the things that they think is right for the team.”

Harper’s new skipper Dusty Baker responded to his star outfielder’s comments in the following way: “He has leadership potential, but he’s not a leader yet.”

While these comments may not sit well with Nationals fans initially, both Harper and Baker do make a compelling argument. Harper is only 23 years old and understands that now is not his time to be the vocal leader of the organization. There are already other guys in place who are more than capable of handling those locker room responsibilities.

One day that time will come, but since the Nationals already have two proven veterans that can assume that type of leadership role in both Werth and Zimmermann, it is better that Harper doesn’t force his way into the fold. Having too many cooks in the kitchen could prove disastrous for the Nationals in 2016, much like it did in 2015.

Harper can continue to lead by his strong play and work ethic around the clubhouse. Perhaps by the time he is 24, 25, or 26 years old, he will have the maturity to become the complete face of the franchise Washington will need to contend annually for a World Series Championship.

Harper’s comments about leadership in spring training may end up serving both he and the Nationals well in the long run. Having the presence of mind to recognize that he still has work to do to become an effective locker room leader means that Harper is more than likely going to be able to figure out his precise leadership style within the next few seasons.

During that time, Harper will be able to cultivate exactly how he wishes to conduct himself as the sole face of the franchise when that day comes. For now, he has both Werth and Zimmermann to learn from. When neither veteran is still with the organization in a few years and Harper has to take over, he’ll most certainly be ready.