With better balance, Harper's swing looking more like 2015

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - It's only been three weeks of games, spring training games at that, so no one should draw any dramatic conclusions about its long-term implications. But those who have been watching Bryce Harper at the plate in the Grapefruit League can't help but notice a significant improvement in his swing.

Harper enters today's game against the Mets sporting a .308 batting average and .438 on-base percentage with five homers.

Among the notable differences from last season, when Harper often looked out-of-whack at the plate: better balance. He's not falling away from the plate, opening his shoulders too soon and popping up weak foul balls to the third base side.

"Oh yeah, for sure," Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. "It allows you not to foul off pitches. It allows you not to miss pitches. Like I said, the problem that I saw was he was fouling off pitches that ordinarily he would put into play. That puts you in a situation to either walk or to strike out."

Better balance has led to a "quieter" swing from Harper, with fewer moving parts and no unnecessary movements.

"I remember they used to say (about) Hank Aaron: 'I can't tell if he's taking or swinging,' " Baker said. "Being quiet gives you more time because you only have a split-second to make up your mind: A ball or strike, and what you're going to do with it. But it allows the game and everything to slow down."

In addition to his five homers - tied for the most in either the Grapefruit or Cactus League entering play today - Harper also has been driving the ball to the opposite field with more authority than he did in 2016. And he's showing renewed patience as well, leading to six walks (including two on Wednesday against the Astros).

"The more pitches you see in spring training, the more your eyes are going to come together and recognize pitches," Baker said. "The whole thing is about pitch recognition, and the more pitches you see, the more your eyes are getting accustomed to changeups, breaking balls, fastballs, sliders."