Bryan Harper hopes to join brother Bryce Harper on Nationals' big
Bryan Harper
Bryan Harper  is in  his  first big league camp this spring. (John McDonnell/The Washington Post)
WEST PALM BEACH  Fla. â Just before 10 a.m. Sunday  a player rushed over to Field 2 on the Washington Nationalsâ side of the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. He jogged alone  his spikes pounding the sidewalk. A boy stood nearby behind a fence  observing the start of the Nationalsâ final workout before position players report for spring training. He couldnât believe his eyes when he saw  Harper  spelled out on the back of the playerâs red jersey.
âI just saw  Harper !â the young boy called out.
Such is the baseball life of Bryan Harper  Bryceâs older brother and a reliever competing to establish his own name at the sportâs highest level. While Bryce became one of the majorsâ brightest stars in a near instant  Bryan  28  is in his first big-league camp this spring after five on the minor league side. Heâs seeking to resurrect his career following Tommy John surgery.
âJust being on the mound  just being back out there  is so much fun â  Harper  said. âIt had been so long.â
âWhen that happens  you just got to kind of sit back and just look at it and accept it â  Harper  said. âThereâs nothing you can do about it. Itâs your body. Your body just literally quit on you.â
 Bryan Harper  works with pitching coach Derek Lilliquist. (John McDonnell/The Washington Post)
 Harper  resumed throwing five months after the procedure last April. By August   he  was throwing bullpens and simulated games.  He  kept in constant communication with  his  brother throughout. The two would communicate between  Bryan âs morning workouts and Bryceâs games at night  Bryan keeping  him  updated on  his  progress and milestones before watching the Nationals play.
âI was watching every night and I actually learned a lot â  Bryan Harper  said. âIt wasnât even watching  him . It was watching Max [Scherzer] and [Stephen Strasburg] and watching those guys pitch  seeing what they do and picking up things.â
 Harper  started  his  offseason work in December â earlier than usual â and was throwing bullpens again by the third week of January.  He  has thrown two bullpens since reporting to camp and has been encouraged by  his  ability to bounce back the day after the sessions.
âExcellent.  His  arm strengthâs good  and  his  command is getting better â Nationals pitching coach Derek Lilliquist said. â He âs got a nice breaking ball.  His  fastballâs got some good shape to it. Weâve just got to get  him  into games and get  him  comfortable.â
 Harper  is one of several relievers vying for a couple spots in Washingtonâs bullpen. The competition is steep on the left side; besides closer Sean Doolittle  Sammy Solis  Enny Romero  and Matt Grace played roles for the Nationals last year and figure to have the leg up on the rest of the bunch.
Excluding Bryceâs brief rehab assignment with Class AA Harrisburg in 2014  this is the first time the brothers will share a clubhouse since they played in junior college together in 2010. As kids  they dreamed of playing in the big leagues together. This season may be their last chance  at least in Washington  with Bryce Harperâs looming free agency. But now  after 214 2/3 innings across 168 games for six affiliates and an inopportune setback   Bryan Harper  just wants to reach the summit and make a name for  himself .
âThe biggest goal â  Harper  said  âis just to make the big leagues.â
The Dodgers have the money to make a run at  Bryce Harper . Do they want to?
[TGT] is in   [TGT]   first big league camp this spring. (John McDonnell/The Washington Post)
WEST PALM BEACH  Fla. â Just before 10 a.m. Sunday  a player rushed over to Field 2 on the Washington Nationalsâ side of the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. He jogged alone  his spikes pounding the sidewalk. A boy stood nearby behind a fence  observing the start of the Nationalsâ final workout before position players report for spring training. He couldnât believe his eyes when he saw   [TGT] spelled out on the back of the playerâs red jersey.
âI just saw   [TGT]  !â the young boy called out.
Such is the baseball life of Bryan Harper  Bryceâs older brother and a reliever competing to establish his own name at the sportâs highest level. While Bryce became one of the majorsâ brightest stars in a near instant  Bryan  28  is in his first big-league camp this spring after five on the minor league side. Heâs seeking to resurrect his career following Tommy John surgery.
âJust being on the mound  just being back out there  is so much fun â   [TGT] said. âIt had been so long.â
âWhen that happens  you just got to kind of sit back and just look at it and accept it â   [TGT] said. âThereâs nothing you can do about it. Itâs your body. Your body just literally quit on you.â
  [TGT] works with pitching coach Derek Lilliquist. (John McDonnell/The Washington Post)
  [TGT] resumed throwing five months after the procedure last April. By August    [TGT]   was throwing bullpens and simulated games.   [TGT]   kept in constant communication with   [TGT]   brother throughout. The two would communicate between  Bryan âs morning workouts and Bryceâs games at night  Bryan keeping  him  updated on  his  progress and milestones before watching the Nationals play.
âI was watching every night and I actually learned a lot â   [TGT] said. âIt wasnât even watching   [TGT]  . It was watching Max [Scherzer] and [Stephen Strasburg] and watching those guys pitch  seeing what they do and picking up things.â
  [TGT] started   [TGT]   offseason work in December â earlier than usual â and was throwing bullpens again by the third week of January.   [TGT]   has thrown two bullpens since reporting to camp and has been encouraged by   [TGT]   ability to bounce back the day after the sessions.
âExcellent.   [TGT]   arm strengthâs good  and   [TGT]   command is getting better â Nationals pitching coach Derek Lilliquist said. â  [TGT]  âs got a nice breaking ball.   [TGT]   fastballâs got some good shape to it. Weâve just got to get  him  into games and get  him   [TGT] 
is one of several relievers vying for a couple spots in Washingtonâs bullpen. The competition is steep on the left side; besides closer Sean Doolittle  Sammy Solis  Enny Romero  and Matt Grace played roles for the Nationals last year and figure to have the leg up on the rest of the bunch.
Excluding Bryceâs brief rehab assignment with Class AA Harrisburg in 2014  this is the first time the brothers will share a clubhouse since they played in junior college together in 2010. As kids  they dreamed of playing in the big leagues together. This season may be their last chance  at least in Washington  with Bryce Harperâs looming free agency. But now  after 214 2/3 innings across 168 games for six affiliates and an inopportune setback    [TGT] just wants to reach the summit and make a name for   [TGT]  .
âThe biggest goal â   [TGT] said  âis just to make the big leagues.â
The Dodgers have the money to make a run at  Bryce Harper . Do they want to?