WASHINGTON (AP) – Nationals star Bryce Harper has been pulled early from a game after Washington manager Matt Williams said the young outfielder didn’t hustle.
Harper was taken out after six innings in Saturday’s 4-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
The 21-year-old Harper is a two-time All-Star known for his aggressive play.
But in the sixth inning, he hit the ball to the mound, jogged to first and took a right turn to the dugout before getting halfway down the basepath.
Asked why Harper was removed, Williams said: ”Lack of hustle. That’s why he came out of the game.”
”He and I made an agreement, this team made an agreement, that when we play the game, that we hustle at all times,” the first-year manager said.
Harper said he understood the decision.
”I respect what he did,” Harper said. ”That’s part of the game.”
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