Washington Nationals’ hitting coach Kevin Long talked to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal last month about what thought was behind Bryce Harper’s resurgence over the last couple of months after a rough stretch for the 25-year-old, soon-to-be-free agent.
Long said he believed Harper’s struggles in the first half showed the Nats’ outfielder his true value and would benefit him in the long run.
“His value is not in trying to hit home runs. His value is putting together good at bats and hitting line drives, and some of those line drives will end up home runs.