bryce harper on sports illustrated cover

Las Vegas High sophomore catcher Bryce Harper is the ‘most exciting prodigy since Lebron.’

The power-hitting Harper, who batted .626 with 14 home runs and 55 RBIs this spring, will be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated on Thursday with a headline proclaiming the 16-year-old is ‘Baseball’s Chosen One.’ The subhead makes the comparison to NBA star Lebron James.

While prodigies seem to come and go — Freddy Adu and Michelle Wie come to mind (along with LeBron) — they don’t often appear on SI’s cover, making this an instant early piece of memorabilia.

Hardcore card prospectors already know who he is — he can be found in this year’s Upper Deck USA Baseball set on three cards — one signed card, one signed memorabilia card and one standard card.

Players’ first appearances, from Joe Namath’s “Broadway Joe” debut (right) to Michael Jordan (along with Sam Perkins) in his Carolina blue, always command a premium over other appearances. (And the magazine has a strong collector base as it is.)

“It is just amazing. I’m so proud of him for all the work he has done,” said Ron Harper, his father. “I don’t know if anyone in the country deserves it more than him. He just busts his butt for something he loves.”

By the time Harper, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound, smooth-swinging left-handed hitter, walked into his first-period class this morning, word had already spread to teachers and classmates of Harper's soon-to-be national notoriety. Las Vegas baseball coach Sam Thomas e-mailed the cover to staff at the school.

"This is so awesome. There are no words to describe it," Bryce Harper said. "With everyone seeing the magazine, that will put a big target on my back. But I don't care. I love that."

Harper hit seven home runs this month in six Sunrise Regional playoff games, but Las Vegas fell to Green Valley High in the title game. His power at the plate included blasting a 502-foot home run at the Tampa Rays’ Tropicana Field in a national home run derby in January.

So, while a 16-year-old appearing on the cover is significant, the issue also going to hold a significant place for collectors as well.

And it’s not even out yet.

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