Baseball Needs Bryce Harper to Be Better

In some ways, the present moment looks like a pinnacle for Bryce Harper. Tuesday evening, the 25-year-old Washington Nationals slugger will be starting in the All-Star Game in his home ballpark, marking his fourth consecutive appearance at the midsummer classic and the sixth of his seven-year career. Monday night, he made his much-anticipated debut in the Home Run Derby (he long maintained he’d ) and, on the strength of his trademark cloud-cleaving swing, won in style. When Harper reaches free agency this winter, he could sign the most . For a player whose professional life has often mirrored the tropes of a sports video game—he appeared on the of at 16 years old, debuted in the majors and won Rookie of the Year honors at 19, and was named the MVP at 22—taking center stage at Major League