First base protection is sophisticated. 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 typically 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 if you’re previous your athletic prime. However as a result of first base doesn’t require high 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 choice for the previous MVP when the place opened up and he was coming back from Tommy John surgical procedure in report time. Final 12 months, he dealt with it effectively — even when he at instances ventured too far off the bag for grounders within the gap, as if he had been again in proper area attempting to chop the ball off within the hole — provided 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 effectively. His defensive metrics regarded strong in 2023 (+3 OAA); in fact, 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 price of performs, now we have a greater concept of what his true expertise is on the place. Later on this article, we’ll watch some video of Harper enjoying first to judge the place he stands. However first, let’s check out the numbers.
To this point 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 very best amongst first basemen. Principally, the numbers indicated that Harper had a strong basis already, and with extra expertise, he’s change into one of many high defenders at his place.
For the remainder of this piece, we’ll use video to interrupt down Harper’s dealing with of three basic aspects 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 — reminiscent of catching pickoff makes an attempt, securing scoops, and receiving cutoffs earlier than delivering relays — however I’m most concerned about his expertise fielding groundballs. With that mentioned, let’s begin by 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 nice at working from the bottom up, and he nearly all the time retains his physique transferring in the proper route. Any shortstop would inform you that progressively transferring your toes 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 toes to ensure you keep below management and don’t overplay the baseball and get a foul hop. When working towards the primary final analysis, as Harper has finished so effectively, you steadiness how laborious the ball was hit with the angle you are 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 seems to be very comfy making these choices. I snuck the liner from Matt Olson in there to indicate how fast he might be on his toes. Not each first baseman can transfer like that. Now, let’s transfer on to a extra sophisticated process: flipping to the pitcher.
Flips to Pitcher
Harper has finished effectively 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 vital facets of fielding grounders at first as a result of you will get caught in a foot race with a runner. However in the event you’re constant together with your supply and have a superb really feel for rushing up your arm when essential, there isn’t a must rush your toes.
I’m impressed by Harper’s skill to make performs transferring to his proper. He makes use of his proper foot to plant or pivot very effectively. That has so much to do together with his athleticism. He will get into good positions to remain below the baseball and make reads together with his fingers. The subsequent clips spotlight that much more:
Potential Performs to Second
There are three totally different strikes that you would be able to make as a right-handed thrower when deciding to ship a fireplace to second from the varied 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 implausible as he spins, turns, and throws, and his supply is to the right facet of second base. Then on the same grounder (the third play), he realizes he doesn’t have a throwing lane and decides to take the certain out at first. On the laborious groundball from Mike Trout, Harper switches his toes in a short time (like a catcher would) and delivers the ball proper on high of the bag. The one hiccup comes within the last play within the clip, when he will get the groundball close to the outfield and decides to carry it as an alternative of creating a spinning throw to second. If he fires to second as an alternative, 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 determination. He’s clearly comfy making the spinning throw from a shallow depth, however this final piece will assist him change into extra full on the place.
Typically, I’m impressed with how comfy the Phillies slugger seems to be 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 verify to maneuver in any route. 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 change, but it surely’s nonetheless price appreciating.
