Harper takes early BP to hit homers, prepares to leadoff for first time this season

Manager Davey Martinez made an opening statement following the Nationals' 3-2 series-opening win over the Pirates Monday night.

He came into the press conference room and said the team has to score more runs and take advantage of opportunities, even after a win. Missed opportunities have slowed their progress to begin the season, starting 13-16.

"We got to start scoring runs when we can," Martinez said post game Monday night. "They're playing well. They really are. But when we have a chance to put teams away, we got to start putting them away. We really do."

After speaking with reporters, Martinez summoned slugger Bryce Harper to his office. Harper had again been walked intentionally twice in the game. He also had struck out twice. He hadn't hit a homer since April 16.

Martinez told him then he planned to hit Harper first in the lineup Tuesday. This will be the 17th time in Harper's six year career that he has led off in the starting lineup.

"How do you feel about leading off?" Martinez said he asked Harper. "And he gave me that look. And he said the same thing, why not? If they walk you your first time up, great you're on base now here we go. After that you're not a leadoff hitter anymore. You just come up whenever you come up. We hit (Wilmer) Difo ninth, hopefully he gets on before him and we get something going."

"He asked if I wanted to do it, and I said I'll do whatever you want," Harper said. "You lead off one time in a game. Every other bat, it doesn't really matter if you're leadoff or not."

Martinez had said that Harper was getting frustrated at not getting a chance to extend his arms and really unload on a ball because of the way he has been pitched in April. But Harper says there is a positive about getting walked 38 times.

"Getting on base, so I can't be mad about that," he said. "On-base percentage is super important. Getting on base for the guys behind me, trying to have good at-bats and not expand the zone. It's definitely tough, but I just gotta keep doing it, keep trying to get on base, and have good at-bats and wait for a mistake and not miss it."

Harper took early batting practice Tuesday. He gotten himself back to launching tape measure home runs.

"Just hit some homers," Harper said. "Get some balls over the plate and do some damage. BP is a good spot to get out there and, when you're not swinging the bat as much, try to stay as effective as you can, just feel the ball hitting the barrel. I was trying to hit the ball as far as I could, just trying to get my body going again and feeling that."

But the bottom line is Harper hasn't been able to do what he does best enough times to begin this season. And he knows it.

"At 25 years old, you want to hit the baseball," he said. "That's just going to make me a better baseball player. Every single day, going in, having a good mentality about it and just trying to be the best I can. Try to get on base and having good at bats. It's definitely tough, but just go out there and try to get on base and score some runs."

So is it cool to leadoff?

"I'm excited just to play each and every day," Harper said. "Trying to get the ironman award and play 162."

But will it make that much of a difference?

"I'm not sure. I'm just going to go up there, try to have a good at-bat and not really change," Harper said. "Not really think I'm in the one spot. Just trying to go out there and do the things I can to get on base for the guys behind me and hopefully score some runs and win some ball games."

Martinez said he has had experience over the years of putting his best hitters at the top of the lineup and allowing them to be themselves again. He did it with Joe Maddon at the helm with the Cubs for Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant. He did it for Evan Longoria in Tampa.

"Yeah it kind of helped get them back in the strike zone," Martinez recalled. "I know he's frustrated about walking all the time but we always tell him, hey take your walks. Walks are good, walks will get you back in the zone and when you get your pitch, just don't miss it."