Harper proud of brother Bryan

WASHINGTON -- Nationals left-hander Bryan Harper, Bryce Harper's older brother, is having the best season of his professional baseball career. Entering Sunday action, he has a combined 2.36 ERA for Class A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg. It helps that Bryan Harper is repeating his delivery and commanding his fastball much better.

Bryan, who was selected in the 30th round of 2011 First-Year Draft, had a rough time the previous two years with a combined 5.60 ERA.

"I'm very excited for him," Bryce said. "He has worked hard his whole life. The last couple of years were a little rough for him, but he has been throwing great. He was throwing great toward the end of last year and he threw great during the first half with Potomac.

"He looks like the old Bryan. He looks like he did when he was a senior in high school and [college]. He is doing a great job, doing his own thing. He is really succeeding. He is a 6-6 lefty. They are always going to be good."

Bryan is not only a reliever, he has a handlebar mustache that resembles Rollie Fingers.

"I don't think he is going to get rid of it. He is doing well with it," Bryce said. "He grows a big beard during the offseason, so he was trying to do something different with the Rollie Fingers' mustache. He is doing well with it. I don't think it's going anywhere soon."