Bryce Harper earned the first ejection of his young major league career on Wednesday night. With a runner on first and one out in the ninth, Harper grounded into an inning-ending double play. Although the Nationals held a comfortable 8-4 lead over the Marlins at the time and Harper had already homered twice, we know by now that he strives for perfection and hates when he fails to produce. After he was called out at first he spiked his helmet in frustration, and first-base umpire C.B. Bucknor immediately ejected the 19-year-old.
“I shouldn’t have done it, but I don’t like hitting into double plays,” Harper said after the game according to the Associated Press. ”I just need to stop getting mad and live with it. I just need to grow up in that mentality a little bit and try not to bash stuff in. I’ve always done it my whole life. Things need to change.”
Harper has already broken a bat over home plate in frustration on more than one occasion this season. He also smashed a bat in the dugout and gave himself this nasty cut under his eye. Nationals manager Davey Johnson said that Harper has “just got to stop it” because Washington can’t afford to be losing him. Giving 100 percent at all times is a great thing, but Bryce has to learn to channel his emotions better or it will start costing the team.
