Brandon Harper

Brandon Harper...married the former Joanna Valentine on Oct. 7, 2006...graduated from Hobbs (N.M.) High School in 1994...played one year at College of the Southwest (Hobbs, N.M.) in 1995 before transferring to Dallas Baptist University, where he was an NAIA second-Team All-American in 1997.

2006

In 10th professional season, finally received first taste of the big leagues...did not waste opportunity, batting .293 (12-for-41) with 3 doubles, 2 home runs and 6 RBI in 18 games after having contract purchased by the Nationals on August 1...hit first (and to date only) 2 big league homers on August 20 at PHI...both homers came at Randy Wolf's expense...tallied 4 RBI...became only the 2nd player in franchise history to record first 2 big league home runs in the same game...the other: Bret Barberie, August 2, 1991 vs. PHI...notched 2nd straight 2-hit effort, August 22 at FLA...hit safely in career-best 5 straight games, September 10-24, at a .385 (5-for-13) clip with a double and 2 RBI...posted RBI in back-to-back games, September 19-20 vs. ATL...went 4-for-10 (.400) when facing opposing right-handed pitchers...started 13 games for Frank Robinson...when starting behind the plate, Washington went 5-8...defensively, did not throw out any of 9 basestealers.
Game-By-Game Highlights: In his major league debut on August 9 vs. FLA, started at catcher and went 1-for-2 with a hit by a pitch...doubled off FLA's Dontrelle Willis in first big league plate appearance...became the first National to post a hit in first big league plate appearance since Rick Short, June 10, 2005 vs. SEA.
In Minor Leagues: Hit .292 (35-for-120) with 10 doubles, 2 homers and 11 RBI in 43 games with Triple-A New Orleans...went 16-for-39 (.410) with 6 doubles, one homer and 5 RBI in 11 games, July 9-31, prior to being recalled by Washington...posted 5 three hit efforts (April 7 at Round Rock, June 17 at Round Rock, July 1 vs. Oklahoma, July 14 vs. Round Rock and July 20 at Albuquerque)...in 20 games at Zephyr Field, hit .321 (17-for-53)...hit .316 (18-for-57) with runners on base.