Don't tell Bryce Harper it's only Spring Training, 'cause he just legged out a Baltimore-chop double

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Reigning National League MVP Bryce Harper lit the baseball world on fire earlier this week with a take so hot that the Nationals should be giving out oven mitts to fans attending games at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Fla. Harper spoke out in defense of bat flips, celebrations and other public displays of exuberance in a lengthy ESPN The Magazine feature:
"Jose Fernandez is a great example. Jose Fernandez will strike you out and stare you down into the dugout and pump his fist. And if you hit a homer and pimp it? He doesn't care, because you got him. That's part of the game. It's not the old feeling -- hoorah ... if you pimp a homer, I'm going to hit you right in the teeth. No. If a guy pimps a homer for a game-winning shot ... I mean -- sorry."
See? You'd probably be best served to slip an ice cube or four into that #HotTake before taking a sip. Amid the ensuing debate about baseball's unwritten rules and whether or not it's cool to flip your bat, Harper suited up for Grapefruit League action as his Nats hosted the Cardinals, and the man wasted little time before practicing what he'd been preaching.
In the bottom of the first, Harper Baltimore chopped the living daylight out of a Michael Wacha offering. The ball bounced over a leaping Brandon Moss at first base, so Harper hopped on his horse and hustled into second with an RBI double. Did his helmet fly off as he rounded first base? Only of course ...

We also have it on good authority that Harper got his day started with a little dugout dance party co-starring Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez, because "work hard, play hard" is the only way to live.
We dare you to show us someone who's having more fun playing baseball than Harper. We Baltimore-chop-double dare you ...

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