“It’s always in their hands, so there’s nothing the players can do” - When Bryce Harper spoke out about suspension for brawl with Hunter Strickland

In 2017, a now-infamous brawl took place between Bryce Harper and Hunter Strickland. The two MLB veterans became forever linked in one of the more notorious modern-day fights in baseball. It resulted in a four-game suspension for Harper and six games for Strickland.

Harper said of the ban, via The Washington Post:

“You never know what Major League Baseball is going to do, or the [MLB] Players Association, or things like that. It’s always in their hands, so there’s nothing the players can do about what’s fair, what’s not fair … just going to appeal that four games and see what happens.”

Strickland, then pitching for the San Francisco Giants, threw at and hit Harper with a pitch. Harper, who was at that point still a budding superstar for the Washington Nationals, didn't take kindly to it.

He charged the mound and removed his helmet. He attempted to throw it at Strickland but missed, slamming it into the ground instead. They came together and punches flew as the two benches cleared.

---

Bryce Harper discussed being hit by Hunter Strickland

Bryce Harper found himself surprised in the immediate aftermath of what had transpired seven years ago. He was shocked that Hunter Strickland, now with the Los Angeles Angels, threw at him at all.

Bryce Harper got suspended in 2017 (Imagn)

He said, via The Washington Post:

“I was sitting there talking to my parents this morning at breakfast. It’s just crazy that it even happened yesterday. After three years, to do that, I don’t know what was going through his mind or how upset he was the last couple years."

The Nationals were happy that Strickland got banned for more games since they believed it was his longstanding grudge with Harper that set off the incident. Harper added:

“If he did have a problem, he could’ve talked to me in BP about it and say: ‘I didn’t like the way you went about it.’ But that’s not human nature, I guess. I don’t know, it’s just part of the game, I guess."

He continued saying how "crazy" it was and how he couldn't believe that it had happened at all.