Shattering strength: Nats' Bryce Harper breaks bat and still homers

In a startling display, the Washington Nationals slugger broke his bat into two pieces, yet still hit a long home run Monday night against the New York Mets.

Washington slugger hits league-leading 8th home run

The Associated Press ยท
Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper hits a solo home run against the New York Mets on Monday despite breaking his bat on the swing. (Kathy Willens/The Associated Press)

This was shear power by Bryce Harper.

In a startling display, the Washington Nationals slugger broke his bat into two pieces, yet still hit a long home run Monday night in the Nationals' 8-6 win over the New York Mets at Citi Field.

Harper's bat shattered just above his hands, and the barrel helicoptered into the high, protective netting behind home plate on the first base side.

The ball sailed far over the wall in right centre at Citi Field. Harper hit his major league-leading eighth home run, a solo shot in the first inning on a 95 mph fastball from Jacob deGrom. Statcast projected the homer at 406 feet.

As Harper rounded the bases, first base coach Tim Bogar picked up the few inches of lumber left in the former NL MVP's batting gloves and handed it to a bat boy.

On his way back to the dugout, Harper playfully pulled up his sleeve to show his biceps.

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