Heyman: Calf slows Bryce, and prodigy admits he “probably’’ can’t make Nats

Slugging wunderkind Bryce Harper, 19, admitted today he doubts he can make the Nationals after missing a few key games with a calf issue. “Probably not,’’ he said in answer to a question about whether he can still has a chance to be picked to go north with the team. Then, he added, “It’s all good though.’‘

Harper has said from the moment he got to spring camp that his goal was to make the team. But he probably needed things to go perfectly to realistically make it, and he is smart enough to understand that. Nationals teammates say they are impressed by his speed as well as his power but a couple remarked that they haven’t seen him enough to make a judgment. Lost time was something Harper could ill afford if he was to realize his goal of making the Nats.

Harper plays and works hard (according to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post, he showed up at Space Coast Stadium at 7:15 a.m. today), and by all appearances he seems to have a terrific attitude, despite previous reports of excessive cockiness.

But mainly, he has great home-run potential. Harper, considered one of the top three prospects in baseball, has impressed Nats veterans with his prodigious power. “Outrageous,’’ Brad Lidge said. Harper was cranking balls in batting practice above an owl’s nest perched above the light tower in right field here. He swings with all his might and frequently connects.

Thanks to Wayne.