Jonathan Papelbon says attacking Bryce Harper was lowest point of his career

In baseball, it is generally a bad idea to attack the face of the organization, especially when you are a relief pitcher that seems to be short on friends in a new clubhouse. That didn’t stop Jonathan Papelbon from coming to blows with Bryce Harper and wrapping his hand around the future NL MVP’s throat in a late season game in the dugout. The tension had been boiling and with neither Papelbon or Harper one to back down, things boiled over in a game against the Phillies.

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Following that incident, there were very few defenders of Papelbon. Everyone seemed to take Harper’s side. During his first media availability down in Florida as the Nationals begin Spring Training, Papelbon had a chance to address the incident that led to a season-ending suspension (after he stayed on the mound for another inning). Papelbon accepted his responsibility for the blowup, which he said he apologized for last season to his teammates as well.

“Me and Bryce, we’re good. Like we’ve both said, ” Papelbon said today. “I’ve apologized to him. I’ve apologized to my teammates. I want to apologize to the fans and the coaches and everyone included, and I think that with what happened last year, I was in the wrong. Should have never went down that way, and I understand that.”

Papelbon has never really been one to admit when he has been wrong, so his comments are worth noting here. Of course, we’ll see how that plays out over the course of a new 162-game season. Papelbon said the stuff Nationals fans should want to hear, and maybe it’s the opening of Spring Training that blossoms so much optimism in every big league camp that helped Papelbon admit his wrongdoing publicly like this.

Papelbon also said he contacted Harper before the MVP announcement was made in the offseason, wishing him good luck.

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Papelbon is about to embark on his 12th season in the big leagues. At 35, Papelbon is looking to pick up one more World Series ring before getting to the point where he will have to shut it down for good. The Nationals, given all the investments that have been put into the team in recent years and the offseason managerial change, can give him a good chance to do just that if — IF — the team can manage to stay together on and off the field.

Washington has a track record of falling shy of expectations, and when things go sour, that is when the warts show. Papelbon has been a wart. Can he avoid being a distraction this season? And has Harper accepted his apology? Odds are, Harper is just ready to focus on what’s next in his career.