"Bryce Harper was special at age 15" - Tarik Skubal reminisces about being inspired by 8x All-Star ex-MVP's Little League exploits

An eight-time All-Star and two-time NL MVP, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper stood out as a hitter from an early age. Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal was inspired by Harper's early achievements and found motivation in Harper's talent displayed during his youth.

In an interview with ESPN, Skubal talked about his childhood baseball influences and how observing Harper during his time in Little League helped him.

“Bryce Harper was a little bit older than me," Skubal said. "But I played in a bunch of tournaments growing up, and when Harper was a bit older, I watched his games. I mean, Harper was special at age 15. And that's kind of like, 'I want to be that good.' I wasn't nearly that good at 15." [02:02]

Bryce Harper shows off custom crayon bats for MLB Players’ Weekend

MLB Players’ Weekend has been and gone, and it gave players like Bryce Harper the opportunity to show off their personalities in more obvious ways on the field. This special weekend allowed players to break from the usual uniform rules, including custom cleats and bats.

Harper took full advantage of this opportunity by showcasing two unique bats designed by his children.

Harper teamed up with Victus to create these one-of-a-kind bats, letting his kids use crayons to decorate them. The result was two vibrant custom bats that stand out from the rest. These bats were special not only because of their colorful designs but also because they represent a personal touch.

Harper said, via The Philadelphia Inquirer:

“They just kind of put all the stuff that they wanted, and my wife did the same,” Harper said. “I thought it would be a pretty cool idea. They mean a lot to me, so being able to have my kids do this for me would be a good one to keep.

“They were excited,” Harper said. “They don’t really get too entertained with the game right now, but they were excited to see that I was using it.”

Harper is known for bringing his unique style to the field and in previous seasons, he has sported cleats featuring designs influenced by the PSA and the Phillie Phanatic.