Granted, new Nationals manager Dusty Baker hasn’t been with the team for long -- he was hired back in November -- but one would imagine it doesn’t take long to memorize your star player’s name. But Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports that the skipper on at least two occasions referred to Harper as “Royce” rather than Bryce. Baker said he’d never met anyone named Bryce before.
According to Baseball Reference, there have been three players named Royce to play in the majors: Royce Clayton (1991-2007), Royce Ring (2005-10), and Royce Lint (1954). Baker managed Clayton for three seasons with the Giants from 1993-95. But Baker’s misnomer aside, there aren’t any similarities between Harper and Clayton.
The Nationals have at least “explored” the idea of signing Harper to a contract extension, so it might help to get his name right.
