Bryce Harper Is Getting Comfy With First Base

First base protection is sophisticated. It isn’t one of the tough positions, however that doesn’t imply it doesn’t have its personal challenges. Gamers within the latter half of their careers who’ve misplaced athleticism generally undertake the place as their new house, which is fascinating as a result of it’s way more tough to be taught a brand new place once you’re previous your athletic prime. However as a result of first base doesn’t require prime tier athleticism, it’s not unusual for that to occur. Bryce Harper’s case is an ideal instance of this.

Between Philadelphia’s crowded outfield and its curiosity in holding its star wholesome as he ages by way of his 30s, first base grew to become a viable choice for the previous MVP when the place opened up and he was coming back from Tommy John surgical procedure in report time. Final yr, he dealt with it nicely — even when he at occasions ventured too far off the bag for grounders within the gap, as if he have been again in proper discipline making an attempt to chop the ball off within the hole — on condition that he was studying the place on the fly.

It was a guess on Harper’s baseball expertise and IQ that appears to have labored out nicely. His defensive metrics seemed stable in 2023 (+3 OAA); after all, contemplating the small pattern, we shouldn’t take these numbers as bond, however they have been encouraging nonetheless. Now, with a full offseason of studying the place and a month’s value of performs, now we have a greater concept of what his true expertise is on the place. Later on this article, we’ll watch some video of Harper enjoying first to judge the place he stands. However first, let’s check out the numbers.

To this point in his first base profession, Harper has a +6 OAA and a Success Charge Added between three and 4 p.c. His OAA this season is +3, which is the very best amongst first basemen. Principally, the numbers indicated that Harper had a stable basis already, and with extra expertise, he’s grow to be one of many prime defenders at his place.

For the remainder of this piece, we’ll use video to interrupt down Harper’s dealing with of three elementary sides of the place: his footwork on groundballs that he takes unassisted, his feeds and really feel for flipping to pitchers, and his alternatives to make outs at second. There are different points that go into first base protection — comparable to catching pickoff makes an attempt, securing scoops, and receiving cutoffs earlier than delivering relays — however I’m most considering his expertise fielding groundballs. With that mentioned, let’s begin by taking a look at grounders hit shut sufficient to the bag for Harper to make an unassisted putout:

Unassisted Groundballs

Two issues stick out to me straight away: Harper is sweet at working from the bottom up, and he nearly all the time retains his physique transferring in the appropriate route. Any shortstop would let you know that progressively transferring your toes and physique weight towards your goal as you discipline the ball is essential. The identical premise holds for first baseman.

With a sluggish chopper, it’s important to stagger your toes to be sure to keep beneath management and don’t overplay the baseball and get a foul hop. When working towards the primary final analysis, as Harper has finished so nicely, you stability how exhausting the ball was hit with the angle you’re taking to it; on tougher hit balls, you set your physique on the road to guard towards a double, whereas when a deep chopper comes, you reorient your middle of mass towards the bag to be sure to’re prepared for a race with the runner or to throw to the pitcher. Harper seems to be very snug making these choices. I snuck the liner from Matt Olson in there to indicate how fast he will be on his toes. Not each first baseman can transfer like that. Now, let’s transfer on to a extra sophisticated job: flipping to the pitcher.

Flips to Pitcher

Harper has finished nicely sticking to the basics right here. He has a rhythm established with Zack Wheeler specifically, however his execution of main every pitcher to the bag is on level. He maintains composure all through every of the throws, even when the batter-runner is a speedster like Elly De La Cruz. Urgency and tempo are vital points of fielding grounders at first as a result of you will get caught in a foot race with a runner. However should you’re constant together with your supply and have a superb really feel for rushing up your arm when crucial, there isn’t any must rush your toes.

I’m impressed by Harper’s potential to make performs transferring to his proper. He makes use of his proper foot to plant or pivot very nicely. That has loads to do together with his athleticism. He will get into good positions to remain beneath the baseball and make reads together with his arms. The subsequent clips spotlight that much more:

Potential Performs to Second

There are three completely different strikes which you could make as a right-handed thrower when deciding to ship a fireplace to second from the assorted first base positions (shallow, medium, deep) — you may pivot towards your throwing shoulder to sq. your physique to the bag, you may spin towards your forehand and non-throwing shoulder to sq. your physique, or you can also make the throw on the run. Harper clearly has a really feel these three strikes.

On the grounder hit by Olson, Harper’s footwork is unbelievable as he spins, turns, and throws, and his supply is to the proper facet of second base. Then on the same grounder (the third play), he realizes he doesn’t have a throwing lane and decides to take the certain out at first. On the exhausting groundball from Mike Trout, Harper switches his toes in a short time (like a catcher would) and delivers the ball proper on prime of the bag. The one hiccup comes within the remaining play within the clip, when he will get the groundball close to the outfield and decides to carry it as a substitute of constructing a spinning throw to second. If he fires to second as a substitute, the Phillies have had a shot at an inning-ending double play. That is one thing to maintain your eyes on as Harper continues to develop on the place. It’s the longest throw a primary baseman will make and requires a fast choice. He’s clearly snug making the spinning throw from a shallow depth, however this final piece will assist him grow to be extra full on the place.

Typically, I’m impressed with how snug the Phillies slugger seems to be at his new place. His fundamentals are on level. He can pop off the bag shortly after holding a runner on and get his toes in verify to maneuver in any route. Even when he makes a mistake, it’s not as a result of he isn’t ready together with his toes. This may not be a Mookie Betts-level place swap, but it surely’s nonetheless value appreciating.