Finishing school

Four days before being picked first overall by the Washington Nationals in the 2010 amateur draft, catcher-turned-outfielder Bryce Harper, then all of 17 years old and playing at Southern Nevada, ends his college career 14 years ago today by being ejected in the Junior College World Series.

Harper is tossed for arguing over the strike zone and receives a two-game suspension that, of course, he never serves on his way to making $197 million – and counting – in the major leagues.

Before the Washington Nationals use the first overall pick of the 2010 amateur draft on him, Harper puts together a collegiate career in which he hits .443 in 66 games for Southern Nevada with 31 home runs and 98 runs batted in.

In his first 12-plus seasons in the major leagues, Harper hits 320 home runs in 1,563 games for the Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies.

Along the way, Harper also wins two National League Most Valuable Player Awards – one with Washington, the other with Philadelphia – as well as being named the NL’s Rookie of the Year in 2012 and being selected to seven All-Star teams.