The Syracuse Chiefs are getting used to dealing with being in the national media spotlight as an affiliate of the Washington Nationals. The team's first practice at Alliance Bank Stadium on Wednesday had many more cameras than the Chiefs might be used to seeing the day before opening day, and many of them where there to interview Bryce Harper. The first overall draft pick from 2010, and the Chiefs' center fielder to start the 2012 season says he's looking forward to making an impact right off the bat.
"Just coming in and battling everyday, I feel like we've got a good club and a good program, great organization," says Harper, "and having a lot of guys around me that have been there and done things coming up on a great team like this I think it's huge for me and huge for the organization."
Harper grew up playing primarily catcher, but the Nationals have him working towards being their everyday center fielder at some point this season. Harper says while he's getting used to taking charge pf the outfield, he's ready for any role the Major League affiliate might have in mind.
"Just playing any position where they need me, I can play right center and left, anywhere they need me I can play. But I'm very comfortable in center field, very comfortable out there and hopefully I can stay there a long time."
The Nationals organization has said they like everything Harper was doing so far, and doesn't need to work on anything specific in Syracuse other than gaining more experience.
"(He has a) great attitude," says Chiefs manager Tony Beasley, "loves to work hard, I've just seen him mature because I had him last year in double A, he's a great person, plays the game hard."
"He's the most talented kid I've ever seen," says Chiefs infielder Jarrett Hoffpauir, "a guy like that 19 years old to come in and deal with the situation he's in the way he does it's something special."
Harper has only been in Syracuse a short time, having just arrived on Wednesday before practice. The Nevada native says he thinks of just one thing when he thinks of the city where he'll be living for the next little while.
"I just knew it was a big basketball town, of course everybody knows about Syracuse, I just knew about the school, the history of the basketball team and everything like that."
The Chiefs open the season Thursday afternoon against the Rochester Red Wings. First pitch at Alliance Bank Stadium is 2 PM.
