With a name like Bryce Harper, it seems he was destined to be famous. You don’t encounter names that rhythmic every day.

But it’s embracing this kind of “pre-destiny” that Harper himself should be a bit apprehensive about. Superstar brands don’t just come with the major league territory.

Bryce, the 17 year-old Junior College phenom (he took and passed the GED at age 16 in order to move on to a higher level of play, and has been shredding Junior College pitchers ever since to the tune of a .400+ batting average), was selected as the overall top pick in Major League Baseball’s June 8 draft. First whispers about him all seem to include a qualifier. Nobody doubts the kid’s talent, but, does he have the right attitude to maximize his celebrity brand value and become a household name over night? Or will he become a figure who reaps endorsements by default, but whom potential sponsors are wary of because of his demeanor? The difference could be millions.

Based on his actions to date, he seems to be headed for the latter.

In the Junior College playoffs this year, Harper almost provoked a brawl between teams after rounding the bases and supposedly attempting to spike an opponent with his cleats. Scouts have testified that his pre-pitch ritual, which consists of laying the bat down while he spits in his hands and lets dirt fall through his palms as the pitcher awaits, will get him thrown out in the big leagues. His most notable recent mishap occurred in the National Junior College World series, where he was ejected for his disrespectful attitude towards the umpire after a called third strike. Harper marked a line in the dirt proposing where he thought the pitch crossed the plate, and then uttered something w

hen the Umpire threw him out. This was his second ejection of the year, resulting in a two-game suspension and a sour end to his collegiate career as he was entering the draft.

Being ready for the big leagues and being ready for the spotlight are two very different forms of preparation. The fact is, his actions display immaturity, and invite us to speculate as to his future as a public figure.


It might be to his advantage to have conversations with recent super-hyped, under-18 athletes for some do’s and don’ts : Lebron James, Alex Rodriguez, and fellow Nationals mega-prospect Stephen Strasberg. Each of those guys knows Harper’s position and can help guide the youngster.

It may well turn out that Harper is a decent, hard-working kid who’s been misunderstood to this point in his career.

It may well also be, however, that Harper misses out on millions of dollars and becomes a nuisance to the MLB brand for his lack of composure.

We do wish him all the best.

Originally posted on SME Speaks | www.smebranding.com