Once the Nationals were able to sign Bryce Harper, a big question was whether they would elect to have him play in the Arizona Fall League. The answer, it seems, is not yet.
According to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post, the Nationals will send Harper home to rest instead of having him play in the first few games in the Arizona Fall League.
Nationals Director of Player Development Doug Harris and General Manager Mike Rizzo will speak in the next few days to decide if Harper's next step includes playing in the AFL. For now, they want to give Harper time to relax and reflect in a comfortable setting.
"He's going to go home," Harris said. "Mike and I are going to talk about it. This is the first time he's really been away from home. He needs to go home."
Harper can still receive a special exemption to play in the league, though the Nationals would have to petition for it since they already have the maximum two players below AA on the roster. The team does have an open roster spot, and Kilgore writes that they should be able to use in on Harper if they would like.
The Arizona Fall League begins today and lasts until the middle of November.