First base protection is difficult. It isn’t one of the crucial 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 house, which is attention-grabbing as a result of it’s far more tough to be taught a brand new place if 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 conserving its star wholesome as he ages by way of his 30s, first base turned a viable possibility for the previous MVP when the place opened up and he was getting back from Tommy John surgical procedure in file time. Final yr, he dealt with it nicely — even when he at instances ventured too far off the bag for grounders within the gap, as if he have been again in proper area attempting to chop the ball off within the hole — on condition that he was studying the place on the fly.
It was a wager on Harper’s baseball expertise and IQ that appears to have labored out nicely. His defensive metrics seemed stable in 2023 (+3 OAA); in fact, contemplating the small pattern, we shouldn’t take these numbers as bond, however they have been encouraging nonetheless. Now, with a full offseason of studying the place and a month’s price of performs, we now have a greater concept 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 guage 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 Price Added between three and 4 p.c. His OAA this season is +3, which is the best amongst first basemen. Mainly, the numbers indicated that Harper had a stable basis already, and with extra expertise, he’s turn into 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 points 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 all for 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 immediately: Harper is nice at working from the bottom up, and he nearly all the time retains his physique shifting in the fitting path. Any shortstop would inform you that progressively shifting your ft and physique weight towards your goal as you area the ball is essential. The identical premise holds for first baseman.
With a gradual chopper, it’s important to stagger your ft to be sure to keep below management and don’t overplay the baseball and get a nasty hop. When working towards the primary bottom line, as Harper has achieved so nicely, you stability how exhausting the ball was hit with the angle you are taking to it; on tougher hit balls, you set your physique on the road to guard towards a double, whereas when a deep chopper comes, you reorient your heart of mass towards the bag to be sure to’re prepared for a race with the runner or to throw to the pitcher. Harper seems very comfy making these choices. I snuck the liner from Matt Olson in there to indicate how fast he will be on his ft. Not each first baseman can transfer like that. Now, let’s transfer on to a extra difficult activity: flipping to the pitcher.
Flips to Pitcher
Harper has achieved nicely sticking to the basics right here. He has a rhythm established with Zack Wheeler specifically, 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 essential points of fielding grounders at first as a result of you will get caught in a foot race with a runner. However for those who’re constant together with your supply and have really feel for dashing up your arm when essential, there isn’t a must rush your ft.
I’m impressed by Harper’s skill to make performs shifting to his proper. He makes use of his proper foot to plant or pivot very nicely. That has quite a bit to do together with his athleticism. He will get into good positions to remain below the baseball and make reads together with his arms. The subsequent clips spotlight that much more:
Potential Performs to Second
There are three totally different strikes you can make as a right-handed thrower when deciding to ship a fireplace to second from the assorted first base positions (shallow, medium, deep) — you’ll be able to pivot towards your throwing shoulder to sq. your physique to the bag, you’ll be able to spin towards your forehand and non-throwing shoulder to sq. your physique, or you may 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 unbelievable as he spins, turns, and throws, and his supply is to the proper facet of second base. Then on an analogous grounder (the third play), he realizes he doesn’t have a throwing lane and decides to take the certain out at first. On the exhausting groundball from Mike Trout, Harper switches his ft 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 resolution. He’s clearly comfy making the spinning throw from a shallow depth, however this final piece will assist him turn into extra full on the place.
Typically, I’m impressed with how comfy the Phillies slugger seems at his new place. His fundamentals are on level. He can pop off the bag rapidly after holding a runner on and get his ft in test to maneuver in any path. Even when he makes a mistake, it’s not as a result of he isn’t ready together with his ft. This may not be a Mookie Betts-level place swap, but it surely’s nonetheless price appreciating.