As baseball looks for a clean slate in the 2014 season following a 2013 campaign that was hindered by the Biogenesis PED scandal, it has one spokesman for playing the game the right way in Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper. Harper emerged at Nationals camp on Wednesday proudly donning t-shirt that read 'PED FREE.'
The MLB suspended 14 players last season for their ties to the now-defunct Florida-based Biogenesis clinic in a scandal that dominated headlines off the diamond last summer, and baseball hopes that this season won't have any more PED distractions this season.
If anyone was suspicious that the Nationals phenom was using anything besides natural talent to enhance his performance, Harper put a stop to it by wearing the shirt on Thursday.
While it seemed like Harper may be trying to make a statement with the shirt against the 14 players that were suspended last year as well as anyone who has been linked to PEDs in the past, the Washington Post reported that Harper said he wasn't trying to send a message to the Ryan Braun's and Alex Rodriguez's of the world.
Hey let us know what glove you think @Nationals @Bharper3407 should wear #OpeningDay ? pic.twitter.com/cEXdm4Bpl9
— Rawlings Sports (@RawlingsSports) February 19, 2014
"Speaking with reporters, Bryce Harper wore a t-shirt that read, "PED FREE." Said it wasn't meant as any kind of message," Washington Post reporter Adam Kilgore tweeted shortly after.
Harper will be all-business once the season starts. After hitting .270 with 22 homers and 59 RBIs on his way to winning the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2012, Harper hit .274 last year with 20 homers and 58 RBIs, and he dealt with some injuries including running into a wall at Dodgers Stadium in May. Harper will be looking for some more improvement in his third year in the MLB.
The Nationals failed to make the playoffs last year after playing postseason baseball for the first time since their move to Washington in Harper's first season with the team in 2012.
Harper will look to help them get back to the playoffs, and if his t-shirt is any indication, he'll do it PED free.
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