Bryce Harper homers, triples in Nationals loss to Cardinals There were many memorable story lines to the this magical Nationals season, Harper chief among them. Harper was called up from Class AAA Syracuse and shipped to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers on April 28 out of need. The Nationals offense was in tatters, with Ryan Zimmerman heading to the disabled list the same day. The Nationals didn't want to rush their prized 2010 first overall pick to the majors and stunt his development. He was hitting .243 at Syracuse with only one home run in 21 games. If he struggled, there was a possibility he would return to the minors. Harper erased that notion instantly. His aggressive, run-until-I'm-tagged-out style of play provided a spark. He stole home in his eighth game. By his 40th game, he was hitting .307 and was perhaps the Nationals" best player at the time. He became the youngest position player to ever be selected to the All-Star Game. And at times, he was, not necessarily a fault of his own, at the center of the action. Philadelphia's Cole Hamels plunked him with a pitch, his way of introducing him to the majors. He drew the ire of Miami Manager Ozzie Guillen for the amount of pine tar on his bat. He was at the plate when Chicago's Lendy Castillo threw too far inside and cleared the benches for the second time that game. Throughout it all, Harper, who once had the reputation for being too cocky, said all the right things. He was guided by his teammates - Zimmerman, Jayson Werth, Adam LaRoche and Rick Ankiel, who protected him and admired him as he matured before their eyes. "Watching what Bryce did was amazing," said veteran Mark DeRosa, who may have put on a Nationals uniform for the final time. Absolutely amazing. He grew quickly into a fan favorite, his jersey becoming one of the highest-selling ones in baseball in the second half. Nationals fans consumed every bit of news about him. He was bona fide star at only 19, one of baseball's most recognizable names. He grew to love Washington and called it home. While most 19-year-olds were still in college, he was playing major league baseball with players several years his senior. He finished his rookie season with the most total bases and extra base hits for a teenager. He came fell two home runs shy of the record set of 24 by Tony Conigliaro in 1964. His on-base plus slugging percentage of .817 stands at third all-time, behind Mel Ott (.921) and Conigliaro (.883). He finished near the top of many of the major offensive categories: hits, runs, stolen bases, walks and more. He joined Nomar Garciaparra (Boston in 1997) as the only rookies in the modern era to notch at least 90 runs, nine triples, 20 home runs and 15 stolen bases. This list could go on. But now with the season over, facing a different reality, Harper's feelings of sadness had a tinge of optimism. He turned and looked a clubhouse filled with young players under team control who would take the field with him for years to come. His feelings were tempered with hope. Harper would head home to Las Vegas maybe on Sunday or Monday. He would pack up his belongings at his apartment in Pentagon City. He was excited to see his dog at home and head down to the University of South Carolina to watch some college football with his brother Bryan, a Nationals minor league pitcher who played baseball there. He wouldn't pick up a baseball until likely January, resting and lifting in the gym until then. "I get 20 more years of this," he said.