Bryce Harper in Class AA

Bryce Harper in 2010 during his AA debut (Will Bentzel photo)

‍Highly skilled and equally hyped teenager Bryce Harper, the top pick in baseball's 2010 amateur draft, arrives on Harrisburg's City Island 15 years ago today, starts in left field in his Class AA debut and goes 2-for-3 during an 8-1 victory over Erie.

All of this before a then-franchise record crowd of 8,092.

Harper, three months shy of his 19th birthday, becomes Harrisburg’s youngest player since 18-year-old second baseman Bob Keller summers on the island in 1935.

Keller never reaches the major leagues.

Harper does in 2012 and has been a dominant player ever since, earning the 2012 National League Rookie of the Year award on his way to winning two National League Most Valuable Player awards.

He also receives — so far — eight National League All-Star Game selections and four Silver Slugger awards while splitting his 15-year career between the Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies.

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