Bryce Harper

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Bryce Harper readies his bat with pine tar before the Hagerstown Suns' home opener against the Lakewood Blueclaws at Municipal Stadium in Hagerstown, Md., on Friday, April 15, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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ASSOCIATED PRESS Hagerstown (Md.) Suns' Bryce Harper leads off first in the Suns' Class A game against the Rome (Ga.) Braves.

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Bryce Harper (center), the Nationals' top rookie prospect, takes the field for an open practice during NatsFest in Washington on Wednesday. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Bryce Harper is still adjusting to playing the outfield after spending much of his amateur career as a catcher. Harper is slated to open the 2011 season with Single-A Hagerstown. (Associated Press)

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Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) grounds out in the seventh inning of the Nationals 10-8 victory over the New York Yankees in their spring training baseball game at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., Saturday, March 5, 2011. Harper was one for two in the game. He had an eighth inning single. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) grounds out in the seventh inning of the Nationals 10-8 victory over the New York Yankees in their spring training baseball game at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., Saturday, March 5, 2011. Harper was one for two in the game. He had an eighth inning single. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper (34) slides into second base as he tries to break up a double play as New York Mets second baseman Brad Emaus (68) makes the throw to first during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game, Tuesday, Mar. 1, 2011, in Viera, Fla. Harper was out at second and Ryan Zimmerman was out at first on the double play. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper watches from the dugout Monday at the start of a spring-training baseball game against the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The 18-year-old outfielder got into the game but struck out twice in two at-bats against major league pitching. (Associated Press)

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Washington Nationals pinch runner Bryce Harper runs between first and second bases during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game against the New York Mets, Monday, Feb. 28, 2011, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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Washington Nationals pinch runner Bryce Harper runs between first and second bases during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game against the New York Mets, Monday, Feb. 28, 2011, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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Washington Nationals pinch runner Bryce Harper runs between first and second bases during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game against the New York Mets, Monday, Feb. 28, 2011, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper smiles as he talks with teammates before the start of a spring training baseball workout Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011, in Viera, Fla. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper holds a football as part of a drill as he waits to chase a fly ball during a spring training baseball workout Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011, in Viera, Fla. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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ASSOCIATED PRESS Bryce Harper, smiles at his family after putting on the jersey and hat, at a news conference where the Washington Nationals baseball team introduced him as their first overall selection in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, at Nationals Park in Washington Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010.

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Baseball player Bryce Harper smiles during a news conference where the Washington Nationals introduced him as their first overall selection in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, at Nationals Park in Washington Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010. Harper agreed to a $9.9 million, five-year deal with the baseball club last week. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)