Harry Reid hopes Bryce Harper returns to Washington

Baseball star Bryce Harper remains on the free agent market, but the outfielder has one fan hoping he returns to the Washington Nationals where the Las Vegas slugger has played since he was drafted with a No. 1 pick in 2010.

Former Nevada Sen. Harry Reid told the Review-Journal that he hopes Harper will return to the nation’s capital to play ball.

“I’m a big Nationals fan now,” said Reid, a former Senate majority leader who personally knows Harper and his family.

“He has a vicious swing,” Reid said of Harper. “Like Tiger Woods’ golf swing.”

Harper played at Las Vegas High School and the College of Southern Nevada before being selected in the draft by Washington. He was the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year, tied for the most home runs and named the NL Most Valuable Player in 2015.

He won the Home Run Derby in 2018, a feat that captivated Reid.

“He’s proven to be a draw,” Reid said from his executive office at the Bellagio.

Harper turned down a 10-year, $300 million contract offer from the Nationals at the end of the season, but the club is still considered in the running for his services and could make a matching offer if another team offers more money.

Philadelphia, San Francisco and Los Angeles and other teams have showed interest in Harper.