Bryce Harper wins 2012 NL Rookie of the Year Award

Posted on November 12, 2012

Instagram of rookie Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals getting ready in the dugout before the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on August 13, 2012 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

 

Bryce Harper, the 19-year-old outfielder for the Washing Nationals capped off a great rookie season by winning the National League’s 2012 Rookie of the Year Award. The Baseball Writer’s Association of America made the announcement a few minutes ago live on the MLB Network. Harper was the winner in a strong field that included outfielder Todd Frazier of the Cincinnati Reds and pitcher Wade Miley of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

I first photographed Harper in 2011 when he played in the Futures Game during the All-Star Game festivities in Phoenix. I was excited to shoot the kid when he made it to the big leagues, and I finally got my chance this past August when the Nationals finally made their first and only trip of the season to the Bay Area to play the San Francisco Giants.

I shot the kid for all three games of the series and was blown away by his bat speed and his foot speed around the bases. He was super photogenic as I shot him before the games taking batting practice and during the games both at the plate and on the bases. Of course my favorite moment with the kid was before the first game of the series when he posed for my iPhone in the dugout so I could do an Instagram of him (see top). The kid (and yes I can call him “kid” since he is only 19!) was really into it and put me on cloud 9 for the rest of the night.

I was disappointed that his team gagged in Game 5 of the NLDS against the Reds. I was really hoping to shoot him again in San Francisco against my Giants in the NLCS. Looks like I will have to wait till next season to shoot him again. However, my goal is to travel to Washington and shoot him in his home whites this time!