WASHINGTON (AP) — Bryce Harper won’t be hitting the major leagues this year, no matter how much he tears up minor league pitching.
Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo told ESPN980 on Wednesday that a call-up for Harper to the big club is “not going to happen” in 2011.
Harper is hitting .366 with nine homers, 31 RBIs and six stolen bases for Class-A Hagerstown. Last year’s No. 1 overall draft pick has been especially dominant since getting new contact lenses.
But Rizzo said Harper has “got to learn the nuances of the game of baseball.” The GM said he doesn’t want to push Harper “to a level where he’s overmatched and struggles even for a short period of time.”
Rizzo said Harper needs to be “100 percent” ready for a major league debut.
