Bryce Harper returns to Nationals Park on Tuesday for the first time since signing a 13-year, $330 million free-agent deal with the Philadelphia Phillies this offseason. Harper was drafted by the Nationals as a 17-year-old in 2010, made his Major League debut two years later, and spent the first seven seasons of his big-league career in D.C.
Up until Christmas time, he still thought he’d spend the rest of his career with the Nationals. But after contract talks fell apart with his old club and heated up with his new one, he’ll now return to D.C. as a visiting player to face old teammate Max Scherzer.
He hardly seems bitter. In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Harper penned a classy message to the Nationals and their fans:
Here’s the full text of Harper’s post:
If you would have told me 5 years ago I would be walking into Nationals Park as an opposing player, I would’ve told you that you were crazy. Five years later, I’m doing just that. I remember the first day I walked into Nats Park. My first base hit. My first home run. And, of course, my first standing ovation. Nationals fans delivered that first ovation. The things that I will miss most are the relationships I gained on a personal level with so many of the Nationals staff and workers around the ballpark. Every day I walked in, I got a smile or shared a laugh with you. I especially want to thank The Lerner Family and Mike Rizzo for the unwavering support they showed me during my tenure in DC. The city of DC was home. Filomena’s, The Silver Diner, The Italian store, and countless other places helped make it feel like home. You, Nationals fans, made me one of your own for the entire time I was a part of the Nationals organization. I’m so blessed to have been able to play for a fan base that cared so much about our team each and every night. You will always hold a special place in my heart no matter what. I look forward to continuing Harpers Heroes with LLS in the DMV as well as making sure the legacy fields bearing my name are the best youth fields in town! When I run on the field tonight I am sure to hear some boos, but I will always remember the cheers and the screams that are still with me right now, as I start my new chapter. So for that, DC, THANK YOU.
Not only does the post sound genuine and heartfelt, but it implies good taste in sandwiches. Harper’s shoutout to the Italian Store, an excellent Northern Virginia deli, suggests the slugger is as distinguishing about his cured meats as he is about pitches on the corners.
Like Harper suggests, some Nats fans will likely boo him upon his return on Tuesday. The ones that do never deserved him in the first place.
