Bryce Harper was 23 years old, in his fifth season in the majors, when Dusty Baker joined the Nationals as the third manager in the 2010 No. 1 overall pick’s career. The two of them are in the World Series now, playing against one another, Harper with the Phillies, having signed a 13-year/$330M free agent deal in Philadelphia in 2019, and Baker in his third season with the Houston Astros, having joined the ‘Stros in 2020, three years after Washington decided they would move on from the manager following the 2017 campaign.
Heading into the 118th Fall Classic, Baker talked with reporters about his first impressions of Harper from back in 2016.