7 years agoBesides Manny Machado, no other player in baseball will be scrutinized this year more than Bryce Harper. The 25-year-old is in the final year of his contract and could shift the fortunes of whatever team signs him. Harper’s 2017 campaign was slightly below his 2015 MVP season, but similar in terms of plate discipline and contact. He posted 29 HR, scored 95 R and 87 RBI in just 111 games. He’s a powerful hitter who mashes when he makes contact as evidenced by his .319/.413/.595 slash line. Two numbers jump out, however. One is he walked at a lower clip as he became more of a free swinger in 2017. The other is how often he started swinging at pitches outside the zone, which did not affect his strikeout rate or contact. In short, he likely pressed at times due to his mid-season leg injury. His leg injuries also affected his ability to steal, as evidenced by his four steals, his lowest amount since 2014. Harper has only played in 140 or more games twice in his career and that continues to be his greatest drawback. When he’s healthy, he’s a talent rivaled only by Mike Trout. But his frequent injuries, prompted by his gonzo style of playing, could give some fantasy players pause when drafting in the first round. Nonetheless still a young stud that anchors a ferocious Nationals lineup. If he stays healthy, owners can expect him to put up monster numbers in his walk year.--Mario Hernandez - RotoBaller