Harper driven to reach new heights

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Bryce Harper bulked up to 230 pounds over the winter.

VIERA, Fla. -- Bryce Harper's primary goal this season, the 20-year-old made clear, is team-related.

"World Series," he said. "That's the biggest thing on my mind."

Not that the Nationals' All-Star outfielder hasn't set some personal goals for himself as well. He just prefers not to share those with the world.

"I have things in my head, goals in my head," he said. "But I'm not ready to share those, because people are probably going to think I'm crazy."

Given the high bar Harper has always set for himself -- this is, after all, the same guy who graduated high school at 16, was drafted No. 1 in the country at 17 and won NL Rookie of the Year at 19 -- there's no telling just what he believes he's capable of doing in his second big-league season.

Thirty homers? Forty? 100 RBI? 40 stolen bases? NL MVP? Nothing seems out of the realm of possibility for one of the most-gifted and most-driven ballplayers in generations.

He's no longer the wide-eyed teenager in a clubhouse full of grown men, trying his best not to create a scene. His locker no longer sits among the minor-league invitees and bench players. He's positioned right between a couple of lineup regulars, Adam LaRoche and Ian Desmond.

And physically ... well, Harper doesn't just look like he belongs in a big-league clubhouse. He looks like he belongs in an NFL locker room, having bulked up over the winter to 230 pounds to fill out his 6-foot, 3-inch frame.

"I lift as hard as I can, get as big as I can in spring training," he said. "Because I know I'm going to lose a lot of weight, because I'm a guy who comes in and loses a lot of weight quick. I'm about 230 right now, and I'll probably drop to 220 before spring training is over and be at a good playing weight myself."

Harper certainly has the physical tools to become an elite power hitter, and manager Davey Johnson is thinking about bumping him down a spot in the Nationals' lineup and having him hit third (behind Denard Span and Jayson Werth, ahead of Ryan Zimmerman and LaRoche).

Harper's response to that possibility?

"I hope not," he said. "I like the 2-spot. I think it's a good spot for me, especially with Denard leading off and Zim behind me. But wherever he wants to put me, that's fine. Davey's a great manager. He's got a great mind."

Like many of his teammates, Harper reported early to spring training, one day before position players are required to arrive. He participated in a brief workout this morning, though that had to be cut short because of rain.

He'll draw plenty of attention this spring, just as he did the previous two springs, though not because of the novelty factor. This time, he's being watched because he's becoming one of the best players in the game and starring for a team with aspirations as lofty as his own.

"I want perfection out of myself, and I think everybody wants perfection out of our team," Harper said. "We're going to come out here and play our game and hopefully get deeper than we did last year. And hopefully have a shot at having a parade at the end."