Bryce Harper remembers Davey Johnson after passing of his first major-league manager

MIAMI — After the news of Davey Johnson’s passing had spread across baseball on Saturday, Phillies superstar Bryce Harper reflected on the time he spent with his first major-league manager at the start of his career.

Before Harper became Philadelphia’s first baseman with two National League MVPs under his belt and an inside path toward Cooperstown, he arrived in the big leagues as a 19-year-old phenom with the world ahead of him. He made his debut under Johnson in April of 2012, crashing into outfield walls, flipping off his helmet on the bases and catching fire down the stretch as he earned the National League Rookie of the Year Award and the Nationals won the NL East to secure their first postseason berth since the franchise moved to Washington.

Johnson, that year’s NL Manager of the Year, has died at the age of 82, according to former Mets public relations director Jay Horwitz.

“Davey Johnson, he gave me the opportunity to be a big leaguer,” Harper said Saturday at Miami’s loanDepot park. “One of the better people I’ve ever been around. Just a lot of fun to play for him, and he loved young players.”

Johnson was a 13-year major leaguer who won two World Series championships with the Orioles in 1966 and 1970 and hit 43 home runs as a second baseman with the Braves in 1973. The right-handed hitter played parts of two seasons with the Phillies in 1977 and 1978.

After his playing career, Johnson managed 17 total seasons with the Mets, Reds, Orioles, Dodgers and Nationals. He famously led New York to a World Series victory over the Red Sox in 1986. Although he hadn’t managed since 2000, Johnson was hired by Washington ahead of the 2011 season and served as the manager of the Nats for three years. He was there as the club ushered in its “Natitude” era with back-to-back No. 1 picks Harper and Stephen Strasburg as the rising stars.

“Harp was saying that he really loved him, because Davey loved young guys,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “So Harp felt like he got to the big leagues a little bit earlier than maybe he would have with some other manager.”

In 2012, it came together in the regular season for the Nationals. Harper was an impressive all-around player as a teenager. Gio González pitched like an ace, and Jordan Zimmermann was not far behind him. Washington won 98 games to claim the division title, which helped earn Johnson his second career Manager of the Year honors.

But with Strasburg shut down by the front office, the Nationals disappointed in October by losing to the Cardinals in the NL Division Series. While Harper had another All-Star campaign, Washington missed the playoffs in 2013, and Johnson retired at the end of the season.

Having played for Johnson, who was 50 years his senior, for two seasons, Harper spoke fondly of his former manager’s connective personality. He embraced the younger players and wanted to help them develop.

“He enjoyed it every day,” Harper said. “He enjoyed going in there and being around the guys and being in the manager’s office. His door was always open for players to come in and talk to him, and he was always teaching.”

Johnson was someone Harper respected as both a manager and a person.

“One of the funnier managers I’ve ever played for,” Harper said, “and just a baseball guy, man. Definitely going to be missed in the baseball circle, and just an all-around great human.”