Bryce Harper smacks homer on Opening Day (Video)

The Washington Nationals trailed the Miami Marlins by two runs in the sixth inning, but then former MVP Bryce Harper decided to change that with one swing.

The Nationals are taking on the Marlins on Opening Day, and the game features some high-profile players. As we all have come accustomed to seeing, Bryce Harper steals the show whenever he takes the field. With Nationals’ starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg in a jam in the top of the fifth inning with two runners already on base, Harper made a spectacular catch to end the inning and keep the game at 2-0.

An inning later in the bottom of the sixth, Harper smacked a solo shot to bring the Nationals back within one. It was a mammoth shot over to right field.

The home run was hit off of Marlins relief pitcher David Phelps, who coming into this game had not allowed a hit to Harper in six previous at bats. Harper won the National League MVP back in 2015, but had an underwhelming year to his standards last season. The Nationals still came out on top of the National League East, but another early playoff exit soon followed. With the roster Washington has, they are in win-now mode and most certainly need their superstar right fielder to be his best at the plate.

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Harper did steal a career-high 21 bases last season, but hit 18 fewer home runs last season than he did during his MVP season in 2015. With a strong spring training in which he batted .310 and swatted eight home runs, Harper looks back on track to replicate those glorious 2015 numbers and potentially have the Washington Nationals compete for a World Series title this season.