First base protection is difficult. It isn’t some of the tough positions, however that doesn’t imply it doesn’t have its personal challenges. Gamers within the latter half of their careers who’ve misplaced athleticism generally undertake the place as their new residence, which is attention-grabbing as a result of it’s far more tough to study a brand new place while you’re previous your athletic prime. However as a result of first base doesn’t require prime tier athleticism, it’s not unusual for that to occur. Bryce Harper’s case is an ideal instance of this.
Between Philadelphia’s crowded outfield and its curiosity in preserving its star wholesome as he ages via his 30s, first base grew to become a viable choice for the previous MVP when the place opened up and he was getting back from Tommy John surgical procedure in file time. Final 12 months, he dealt with it effectively — even when he at occasions ventured too far off the bag for grounders within the gap, as if he had been again in proper discipline attempting to chop the ball off within the hole — on condition that he was studying the place on the fly.
It was a guess on Harper’s baseball expertise and IQ that appears to have labored out effectively. His defensive metrics appeared strong in 2023 (+3 OAA); after all, contemplating the small pattern, we shouldn’t take these numbers as bond, however they had been encouraging nonetheless. Now, with a full offseason of studying the place and a month’s value of performs, now we have a greater thought of what his true expertise is on the place. Later on this article, we’ll watch some video of Harper taking part in first to judge the place he stands. However first, let’s check out the numbers.
Thus far in his first base profession, Harper has a +6 OAA and a Success Fee Added between three and 4 p.c. His OAA this season is +3, which is the very best amongst first basemen. Mainly, the numbers indicated that Harper had a strong basis already, and with extra expertise, he’s turn out to be one of many prime defenders at his place.
For the remainder of this piece, we’ll use video to interrupt down Harper’s dealing with of three elementary sides of the place: his footwork on groundballs that he takes unassisted, his feeds and really feel for flipping to pitchers, and his alternatives to make outs at second. There are different facets that go into first base protection — resembling catching pickoff makes an attempt, securing scoops, and receiving cutoffs earlier than delivering relays — however I’m most thinking about his expertise fielding groundballs. With that mentioned, let’s begin by taking a look at grounders hit shut sufficient to the bag for Harper to make an unassisted putout:
Unassisted Groundballs
Two issues stick out to me instantly: Harper is sweet at working from the bottom up, and he virtually all the time retains his physique transferring in the suitable course. Any shortstop would inform you that progressively transferring your toes and physique weight towards your goal as you discipline the ball is essential. The identical premise holds for first baseman.
With a gradual chopper, it’s a must to stagger your toes to ensure you keep below management and don’t overplay the baseball and get a nasty hop. When working towards the primary bottom line, as Harper has accomplished so effectively, you stability how onerous the ball was hit with the angle you’re taking to it; on more durable hit balls, you place your physique on the road to guard towards a double, whereas when a deep chopper comes, you reorient your middle of mass towards the bag to ensure you’re prepared for a race with the runner or to throw to the pitcher. Harper appears to be like very snug making these choices. I snuck the liner from Matt Olson in there to point out how fast he will be on his toes. Not each first baseman can transfer like that. Now, let’s transfer on to a extra difficult process: flipping to the pitcher.
Flips to Pitcher
Harper has accomplished effectively sticking to the basics right here. He has a rhythm established with Zack Wheeler particularly, however his execution of main every pitcher to the bag is on level. He maintains composure all through every of the throws, even when the batter-runner is a speedster like Elly De La Cruz. Urgency and tempo are vital facets of fielding grounders at first as a result of you may get caught in a foot race with a runner. However when you’re constant along with your supply and have an excellent really feel for rushing up your arm when mandatory, there isn’t any have to rush your toes.
I’m impressed by Harper’s capability to make performs transferring to his proper. He makes use of his proper foot to plant or pivot very effectively. That has rather a lot to do together with his athleticism. He will get into good positions to remain below the baseball and make reads together with his palms. The subsequent clips spotlight that much more:
Potential Performs to Second
There are three completely different strikes that you may make as a right-handed thrower when deciding to ship a hearth to second from the assorted first base positions (shallow, medium, deep) — you may pivot towards your throwing shoulder to sq. your physique to the bag, you may spin towards your forehand and non-throwing shoulder to sq. your physique, or you can also make the throw on the run. Harper clearly has a really feel these three strikes.
On the grounder hit by Olson, Harper’s footwork is implausible as he spins, turns, and throws, and his supply is to the proper facet of second base. Then on an identical grounder (the third play), he realizes he doesn’t have a throwing lane and decides to take the positive out at first. On the onerous groundball from Mike Trout, Harper switches his toes in a short time (like a catcher would) and delivers the ball proper on prime of the bag. The one hiccup comes within the ultimate play within the clip, when he will get the groundball close to the outfield and decides to carry it as a substitute of creating a spinning throw to second. If he fires to second as a substitute, the Phillies have had a shot at an inning-ending double play. That is one thing to maintain your eyes on as Harper continues to develop on the place. It’s the longest throw a primary baseman will make and requires a fast choice. He’s clearly snug making the spinning throw from a shallow depth, however this final piece will assist him turn out to be extra full on the place.
Normally, I’m impressed with how snug the Phillies slugger appears to be like at his new place. His fundamentals are on level. He can pop off the bag rapidly after holding a runner on and get his toes in examine to maneuver in any course. Even when he makes a mistake, it’s not as a result of he isn’t ready together with his toes. This may not be a Mookie Betts-level place swap, nevertheless it’s nonetheless value appreciating.
