By Jerry Del Priore
This season, Bryce Harper won’t be the only one in his family playing professional baseball in Pennsylvania, as his older brother, Bryan, a left-handed relief pitcher, has signed a contract with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League for the 2019 seaso
The elder Harper, 29, signed with the Washington Nationals organization in 2011 out of the University of South Carolina. He spent a portion or all of four seasons at nearby Harrisburg and peaked at Class AAA Syracuse in 2016.
Last year, in 44 appearances with the Class AA Senators, he was 3-1 with four saves and a 3.69 ERA. Bryan Harper’s career record is 16-7 with a 3.66 ERA in 212 games, all in relief.
In his second year since undergoing Tommy John surgery, Bryan Harper should be ready to bounce back even more this season in Lancaster, where manager Ross Peeples said: “He is a lefty that can be used in several different situations. This is his second year since coming off Tommy John and that is when you start to feel your rhythm.”
The Barnstormers commence their season at home on Friday, April 26th, at 7:00 p.m. against the High Point Rockers.
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