Editor's note: SI is running a series of Bryce Harper stories as he prepares to sign one of the richest contracts in baseball history. Click here to catch up on all of our Bryce Harper Week content.
Give Bryce Harper this: as a 16-year-old, he faced expectations that hadn’t been seen in baseball in a generation, and within six years, after he was named National League MVP on every ballot, he had clearly exceeded them. As a 22-year-old, he hit 42 home runs while reaching base in 46% of his plate appearances.