Jule 4, 2011

The Washington Nationals No. 1 draft pick of 2010 took a step in the right direction Monday. Bryce Harper was promoted to Double-A Harrisburg Monday joining the first place Senators in their series opener against Erie.

Harper batted sixth as the starting left fielder and connected on the first pitch delivered for a single up the middle in the first inning. He'd later score his first run as part of a five-run frame to open the game. Harper finished his debut in Harrisburg 2-for-4 at the plate, with a pair of singles, a walk, and a run scored. Harrisburg's Derek Norris and Bill Rhinehart each homered twice to lead the Senators to a 8-1 victory over the Seawolves.

A crowd of 8,092 was on hand to witness Harper's Eastern League debut marking the largest in club history, breaking the 8,078 mark set at last year's All-Star Game.

The outfielder played in 72 games with the Hagerstown Suns before being promoted Monday. The 18-year-old skipped Washington's Class A - Advanced level in Potomac. Harper was hitting .318 with 14 home runs and 46 RBI. He was a South Atlantic League All-Star for the Single-A club and was selected for the 2011 USA Futures Game on July 10 in Phoenix.

Harper and the Senators wrap up a four-game set with Erie on Thursday and will travel to Richmond Friday for a weekend series with the Flying Squirrels.

Attached are video highlights, courtesy: WHP-TV CBS 21, Harrisburg.