VEGAS STRONG
Harper, Bryant linked by talent, tragedy
WASHINGTON — Kris Bryant remembers the intimidation factor watching Bryce Harper when the two were kids growing up in Las Vegas.
“He was a freak of nature. I can’t even explain how intimidated I was to watch him. Just hitting in the batting cage,” Bryant, the Cub who won the 2016 National League MVP award, said of Harper, the National who earned the 2015 honor, unanimously. “The sound coming off his bat was something you didn’t hear.” How old was Harper? “Seven, eight.” And at 12? “When he would get on the mound and he would pitch and he was throwing way harder than anybody I’d ever seen, it was more of the fear factor of ‘ My God if he hits me, I’m going to be crying for a week,’ ” Bryant said. “He was just this larger than life 12-year-old out there who was so good at baseball, you knew he was bound for where he’s at now.”
The two longtime friends are centerpieces of the opposing of- fenses in the National League Division Series starting with Game 1 Friday at Nationals Park.
“Kris is a great player. He’s been a great player his whole life so not really worried about him or how he’s going to do,” said Harper, who played the last five games of the regular season after missing 41 with a hyperextended/bruised knee. “You always wish him the best but we’re going up against a great Cubs team just trying to do our thing and worry about what we can control and that’s our pitching, that’s our hitting and doing things we can to win.”
The bond between the friends grew closer this week through the unspeakable horror of a gunman unleashing the worst mass shooting in modern American history in their shared hometown. Both had friends and family who were at the country music concert where the shootings took place.
“It’s been pretty surreal. Talking to friends, talking to family that were definitely at the concert and seeing things that have happened and transpired. It just goes to show how strong our community is in Vegas, how much of a small-knit community it can be,” Harper said, praising “everybody pulling together and providing. If anybody needs any help, everybody is pulling on the same rope trying to help.
“It’s just definitely an unbelievable thing that happened. You never want that to happen to anybody across the world [and] for it to happen in your hometown, it definitely hits home.”
Bryant related how his “sister-inlaw to-be” escaped.
“[She] was there, running right in the crowd. A lot of friends. I’ve heard a lot of stories about some friends. Thankfully they weren’t hurt,” Bryant said. “But so many people were hurt, it’s sad to think that some people’s kids and parents and uncles aren’t going to be there anymore.”
Bryant spoke proudly of how the community banded together — and with gratitude for how the world responded.
“We play baseball for a living, but there’s way more important things. We’re definitely doing all we can to help,” Bryant said. “I was born and raised in Vegas. … It’s been really touching to see the community come together. The response from everybody. People want to help. They have way too much blood being donated, which is unbelievable.”
Bryant and Harper can take their minds off their hometown horror while facing each other.
“Awesome,” Bryant said. “This is what you live for, to compete against your buddies on a stage like this. … We never really dreamed of this. It’s definitely special.
“I’m so happy for him and all his success, but hopefully we kick his butt on the field.”