WASHINGTON (AP) -- Well, that was quick: Teenager Bryce Harper already is hitting third for the Washington Nationals.
Nationals’ manager Davey Johnson moved Harper into the No. 3 spot in the batting order for Washington's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks and pitcher Ian Kennedy on Thursday night.
It's only the fifth major league game for the 19-year-old Harper, an outfielder who's been hitting seventh since being called up from Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday. He took the roster spot vacated by usual No. 3 hitter Ryan Zimmerman, who went on the DL.
Harper was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 amateur draft after finishing Las Vegas High School early, then spending one season as a catcher at the College of Southern Nevada. He enters Thursday with a .385 average, three doubles and two RBIs.
(Copyright 2012 Associated Press)