Bryce Harper’s World Record – A 502 foot Home Run

There are many moments in a baseball game that can incite excitement, joy, and even heartbreak. However, out of all of these events, possibly one of the most exciting is the home run. The home run represents one of the finest moments in any baseball game, in which the perfect combination of physics, player skill and strength combine, to create a truly wonderful event. Hitting home runs has long been seen as one of the most influential points in any baseball player’s career, especially with players who have something to prove.

At the age of sixteen, Bryce Harper hit a 502 foot home run in the International Power Showcase Home Run Derby. This exciting event occurred at the Tropicana Field, which is also home to the Tampa Bay Rays. This amazing hit traveled over the big screen on the field, and may have even flown farther if it had not bounced off of the outside wall. To-date, it is the longest home run hit that has ever occurred at the Tropicana Field. It is not the longest home run ever hit in the event, as a few other participants from previous years have also broken the 500 foot mark. However, given that the Tropicana Field has been open since the 1990’s, Harper’s achievement is extremely impressive. For his historic (and new world record) home run of 502 feet, Harper was presented with the “Ruth Award”, given by Babe Ruth’s granddaughter. This is the ward that is given out on a yearly basis, to the player that hits the longest home run at the International Power Showcase. Babe Ruth’s longest home run was 624 feet.

The International Power Showcase High School Home Run Derby was first started by Brian Domenico in 2004. This event seeks to celebrate high school baseball players who possess amazing proficiency. In addition to this, the goals of the International Power Showcase involve gaining recognition for talented high school baseball players from around the world. Given Bryce Harper’s unarguably amazing skills in the sport of baseball, expectations for his performance at the event were extremely high. However, even so, Harper was able to exceed expectations, paving the way for a future career in the Major Leagues.

Bryce Harper, now seventeen, is quickly gaining recognition among both baseball fans and major league scouts. His amazing prowess is obvious not only in his hitting skills (which currently stand at a .626 batting average for the spring 2009 season), but in his skills on the field as well. Harper plays the position of catcher, and is also able to play field positions such as shortstop. Currently, Bryce Harper’s batting average stands at .626 for the spring 2009 season. This is up sharply from his 2008 batting average, which was .590 . However, it is important to keep in mind that Bryce Harper is still only seventeen. The future undoubtedly holds many more achievements, as well as rewarding opportunities for this young baseball prodigy.