Universal Ramblings

The power-hitting Harper, who batted .626 with 14 home runs and 55 RBIs this spring, will be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated on Thursday with a headline proclaiming the 16-year-old is ‘Baseball’s Chosen One.’ The subhead makes the comparison to NBA star Lebron James.

Harper, who bats lefty, can hit for power and average. He also has a cannon for an arm and speed that makes him a threat on the basepaths.

Last summer, he earned tournament MVP honors after leading the USA Baseball 16U National Team to the gold medal at the COPABE “AA” Youth Pan American Championships. In eight games, Harper hit .571 and led all players in homers (4) and RBIs (16).

“It is just amazing. I’m so proud of him for all the work he has done,” said Ron Harper, his father. “I don’t know if anyone in the country deserves it more than him. He just busts his butt for something he loves.”

By the time Harper, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound, smooth-swinging left-handed hitter, walked into his first-period class this morning, word had already spread to teachers and classmates of Harper’s soon-to-be national notoriety. Las Vegas baseball coach Sam Thomas e-mailed the cover to staff at the school.