Bryce Harper LAS VEGAS, NV – JANUARY 08: MLB MVP Bryce Harper joins New Era Cap. for a photo shoot to announce a partnership January 8, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for New Era Cap Co.)

It’s Spring Training time in baseball, so perhaps a manager can be forgiven if he forgets a players name or two. But, forgetting a superstar…that’s a whole different ballgame.

That’s exactly what is happening for Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker though, as CBS’ Eye on Baseball reports. If Baker is to be believed, Bryce Harper isn’t Bryce Harper, but instead “Royce”.

It’s perhaps a nice homage to the style of play from the superstar though, as Harper is one of the best hitters in all of baseball. He hit a career-high .330, had 42 home runs and 99 RBIs and had an OPS of 1.109 en route to being named the National League MVP in 2015.

Given Baker’s loose nature in the clubhouse and jovial nature overall, perhaps he is having a bit of fun at the outfielder’s expense. Then again, Baker is 66-years old himself and the memory could be fading a bit too.

Maybe he’s confusing Harper with Royce Clayton, who played under Baker with the Giants from 1993 to 1995. But that was 20 years ago, and Clayton was a light-hitting middle infielder – not a power-hitting outfielder.

Clayton also looked nothing like Harper.

Not Bryce Harper
LOS ANGELES – APRIL 26: Infielder Royce Clayton #10 of the Arizona Diamondbacks warms-up for the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 26, 2005 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The Diamondbacks defeated the Dodgers 3-2. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Either way, these two are sure to be acquainted with each other well by Opening Day.

[CBS Sports]

About Andrew Coppens

Andy is a contributor to The Comeback as well as Publisher of Big Ten site talking10. He also is a member of the FWAA and has been covering college sports since 2011. Andy is an avid soccer fan and runs the Celtic FC site The Celtic Bhoys. If he's not writing about sports, you can find him enjoying them in front of the TV with a good beer!