Monster throw surprises Bryce Harper at first base

Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper is an extremely talented baseball player. At this point, that’s an established fact. And to beat a player like that on the basepaths, to surprise him, you need a play with perfect timing and a deadly accurate throw. When the Nationals faced the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, Phillies left fielder (and 2015 Rule 5 pick) Tyler Goeddel surprised everyone with just that kind of play.

This play really started when Harper was batting against Phillies starter Jeremy Hellickson in the top of the seventh inning. One of Hellickson’s pitches to Harper tailed too far to one side, and it nailed him directly on the right knee. It was unintentional, but that didn’t make it any less painful. Harper took first, and he took a little extra time getting there, making sure his kneecap was still actually attached.

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Second baseman Daniel Murphy was up next, and he lined Hellickson’s 1-1 pitch to left center field. Tyler Goeddel ran in to catch it in the air, and he didn’t waste any time getting the ball back to the infield. Goeddel immediately unleashed a monster throw to Ryan Howard at first base. Harper, who had been making his way toward second base, had to turn around and head back to first.

It looked so casual. Harper scampered back to first pretty quickly, and Howard was just standing there like nothing was about to happen. And then Howard lunged forward to catch the ball, which was right on the money, and Harper didn’t slide. The call on the field was that Harper was out at first, but the play was close. The Nationals challenged it, but the call was upheld and Harper was out.

Why didn’t Harper slide? He may have thought that Goeddel wouldn’t throw the ball back in, or that the throw wouldn’t make it to first in time. Harper’s knee could have even played a role, as he left the game in the bottom of the seventh and is day-to-day with a right knee contusion. But sliding may not have helped him anyway. Goeddel’s throw was just about perfect, and to beat Bryce Harper, perfection is what you need.

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