Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Don’t be a clown, bro. Vote #MLB13Harper

Bryce Harper

Susan Walsh / AP

The Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper heads to second base on an RBI double against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the sixth inning of a baseball game at Nationals Park in Washington, Thursday, May 3, 2012.

Bryce Harper's MLB 13 The Show video promo

Bryce Harper

This Oct. 12, 2012 file photo shows Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper reacting as he heads home on a home run by Ryan Zimmerman during the first inning of Game 5 of the National League division baseball series against the St. Louis Cardinals in Washington. Launch slideshow »

For all of baseball phenom Bryce Harper’s accomplishments during his rookie year, he’s got one more goal and, get this: he needs our help to make it.

It has to do with being a cover boy — for a video game.

The Washington Nationals outfielder and Las Vegas native is one of seven big leaguers in contention to be on the cover of the new "MLB 13 The Show" video game, but needs voting support online to get the nod. After the first day of voting Monday, Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburgh Pirates currently is the leader while the hometown prodigy Harper is fifth.

But voting doesn’t end until 5 p.m. PST Friday and fans can vote as many as 25 times daily, picking the former Las Vegas High and College of Southern Nevada star over Matt Kemp of the Dodgers, CC Sabathia of the Yankees, Buster Posey of the Giants, Ryan Braun of the Brewers and Miquel Cabrera of the Tigers.

Harper arrived on the national scene in 2009 after his sophomore season at Las Vegas High, appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated with a headline calling him "Baseball’s Chosen One" and comparing him to LeBron James.

Three years later, he debuted in the big leagues with the Nationals, batting .270 with 22 home runs 59 RBIs and 98 runs scored in helping them win the National League East. He was the National League’s Rookie of the Year and selected to the all-star team.

Not bad for a teenager — Harper just turned 20 — and someone expected to spend most of the season in Triple-A. He was promoted to the big leagues in late April because of injuries and never lost his spot in the lineup.

His inaugural season featured several notable plays and moments, including a postgame quote following a game in Toronto that went viral. After hitting a home run, a reporter asked if Harper was going to take advantage of Ontario’s lower drinking limit to celebrate. It’s widely known that Harper doesn’t drink, and he responded: “I’m not going to answer that. That’s a clown question, bro.”

So, don’t be a clown, bro. Vote for Harper.

Here’s how to vote: Use Harper’s unique "MLB13" Cover Showdown hashtag #MLB13Harper on Twitter, or by visiting mlb.com/CoverVote.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21.

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