Bryce Harper reached base every time he came to the plate Sunday, but the Washington Nationals right fielder still wound up finishing the day 0-for-0.
Harper made modern Major League Baseball history in the Nats’ Mother’s Day game against the Chicago Cubs by becoming the first player to have seven plate appearances without recording a single at-bat. The reigning National League MVP instead drew six walks — three of them intentional — and was hit by a pitch.
Six walks also is the most in a single game, but Jeff Bagwell (1999), Andre Thornton (1984) and Jimmie Foxx (1938) all have done it before.
Harper actually didn’t see much action the entire series, as he went just 1-for-4 over four games and didn’t record an at-bat in his final 12 plate appearances. In fact, the 23-year-old didn’t even swing at a pitch Sunday, seeing two called strikes in 27 pitches.
Despite Harper’s presence on the bases, though, the Cubs ended up sweeping the Nationals afterJavier Baez hit a walk-off home run to give Chicago a 4-3 win in the 13th inning.
Thumbnail photo via Matt Marton/USA TODAY Sports Images
