On Saturday evening, the Nationals announced they had agreed to terms with Bryce Harper on a $21.625 million deal for the 2018 season.
The contract is not particularly significant—it doesn’t delay his free agency and basically just pre-empts arbitration for the sake of it—but Harper was presumably glad to have it done.
Well the 2015 NL MVP celebrated in style, launching a ninth-inning walk-off home run to give Washington a 6-4 win over the Phillies. It was Harper’s second walk-off home run of the year, with both coming against Philadelphia.
This is Bryce Harper's 5th career walk off HR and his first since …
… last month. pic.twitter.com/6HtfbKFMEj
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) May 14, 2017
The best part of Harper’s walk-off was the dismissive little way he seemed to give to Phillies pitcher Edubray Ramos as he trotted past him along the third-base line.
Did Bryce Harper give Edubray Ramos a little wave as he passed him after mashing walk-off homer? pic.twitter.com/X4rCuuxLCl
— Ben Harris (@byBenHarris) May 14, 2017
The gesture is classic Harper: gratuitous, maybe a touch obnoxious but ultimately harmless and fun.
After the game, Harper compared himself to fellow D.C. sports hero John Wall, who hit a game-winning shot for the Wizards on Saturday to stave off elimination.
Bryce Harper on his walk-off home run: “Just trying to be like John Wall, walk them off a little bit."
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) May 14, 2017
Baseball is more fun when Harper is going well, and given his .368/.493/.726 slash line and 11 home runs, it’s pretty safe to say he’s going well right now.
