Baltimore’s Oriole Park at Camden Yards ranks at or near the top of many fans’ list of favorite ballparks, but Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper hates playing there. Entering Washington’s final series before the all-star break, Harper was 4 for 22 with eight strikeouts in five career games at Baltimore.
Some individual success at the plate and a couple of Nationals wins did little to change Harper’s opinion of the place.
“I don’t [like hitting at Camden Yards],” Harper said after he homered in the Nationals’ 7-4 win on Saturday. “I really don’t. I can’t stand it, actually. I can’t see very well, so hopefully in the daytime I see it better. I feel like it’s a little dark.”
Harper saw the first pitch from Orioles starter Wei-Yin Chen just fine on Sunday, roping a double to right field in the first inning of Washington’s 3-2 win.
“I don’t like hitting here,” Harper said after the game. “I just really don’t. Plain and simple. I mean, I hate it.”
Harper received his usual dose of boos on Sunday, but the heckling from Orioles fans watching the game from the right field flag court was minimal. “You just can’t boo that guy,” one Orioles fan said after Harper’s first-inning double.
Harper has at least one hit in every ballpark in which he’s played, except for Houston’s Minute Maid Park. Harper is 0 for 11 in three career games in Houston. He has also struggled at San Francisco’s AT&T Park (.160 in 25 at-bats), Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park (.163 in 43 at-bats) and Pittsburgh’s PNC Park (.182 in 22 at-bats).
Harper has enjoyed hitting at Seattle’s Safeco Field (6 for 11, 3 home runs), Toronto’s Rogers Centre (7 for 13) and San Diego’s Petco Park (10 for 21, 3 home runs).