The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Josh Harrison is representing the black and gold at the Major League Baseball All Star Game in Miami this week.
When the 2017 MLB season began, a lot of people had doubts about Josh Harrison. Media, mainstream and the blog-o-sphere alike, wondered if he was “worth” the four-year, $27.3 million contract extension he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in April 2015. Now, here we are, at the official halfway mark of the season and he’s the sole representative of a lackluster-but-improving Bucs squad at the MLB All Star game.
A message from The Man. @jhay_da_man #BucStar https://t.co/qM9ToF31xD
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 3, 2017
So how’d he get here? The Pirates made him a highlight reel:
JHay's a 2x #BucStar & today we'll take a look at some of his best plays from 2017.
Like this walkoff beauty: https://t.co/9PbXGSHvDz https://t.co/Jn6iMMsdr4— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 11, 2017
It’s Harrison’s second trip to the game, his first was three years ago in 2014 when his stellar performance for the Pirates earned him 9th place in MVP voting. The second time is less taxing, he said in the video below, but his first trip to the game, he said, was made easier with help from an All Star pro:
JHay talks about being back in the #ASG and more from Miami. #BucStar https://t.co/44Q8Lird44
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 10, 2017
Harrison was named to the National League All Star reserve list, where he’s slotted in as a second baseman. But, a true utlilityman at heart, JHay is happy to play wherever they tell him to go, as he explained.
The game takes place tonight at 8 p.m. It’s become almost a footnote to the activities surrounding All Star week, especially now that the result of the game no longer determines home field advantage for the World Series. What the game means now, as reported by USA Today Sports’ Bob Nightengale, is money. Those players on the winning team take home $20,000 – the losers? Nothing. But even they have prospects of cashing in, given that having that “All Star” line on the resume could add up to extra moolah when it comes to contract time.
But for Harrison, who could be under Pirates’ control through 2020, that’s an afterthought. He’s focusing all of his energy on enjoying the moment.
JHay All (Star) Day
First, there are the parties and the all-important SWAG:
Then the never-ending media gauntlet:
Media time for @jhay_da_man in Miami. #BucStar #ASG pic.twitter.com/gijf8uIj6s
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 10, 2017
According to MLB’s Pirates beat reporter Adam Berry, even an All Star likes to take home a few keepsakes:
.@jhay_da_man got to keep the sign pic.twitter.com/FqlqFG1NVL
— Adam Berry (@adamdberry) July 10, 2017
Then the work begins, and he settled into his locker in the NL Clubhouse:
Then he donned his All Star jersey and got a few licks in before Aaron Judge dominated the Homerun Derby.
BP time for the man. #BucStar pic.twitter.com/GJ616pIGlK
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 10, 2017
Then finally, and probably most importantly to Josh Harrison, he got to enjoy some baseball with his little girl.
No one is complaining about the honor it is to be an All Star, and to represent baseball – but truth be told, Harrison’s still working while the rest of his teammates are enjoying some much-needed rest and family-time. But, it’s a safe bet that most of them would rather be on that field with him than lounging on a beach somewhere. Here’s hoping that’s what next year brings for Josh Harrison and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Featured image courtesy MLB
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