Harper puts up final untouchable number for CSN

Bryce Harper knows it's a long shot, but when he leaves Las Vegas on Feb. 18 for his first spring training with the Washington Nationals, the baseball prodigy will have his sights set on nothing less than making the major league roster.

"I expect to be with the big league club. You know that," a grinning Harper said Friday night. "But it probably won't be happening. We'll see."

Harper stated his preference after having his No. 34 jersey retired by the College of Southern Nevada before the Coyotes' season-opening 8-6 loss to Arizona Western at Morse Stadium in Henderson.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft, Harper is ranked No. 3 on mlb.com's top 50 prospects list, released Tuesday. The website projects him to make his major league debut in 2013, but the 6-foot-3-inch slugger has a more rapid rise in mind.

"I'm thinking I'll be out there next year," said Harper, who turned 18 in October. "Hopefully I'll get a big league call-up in September and then be able to be out there next year and try to make the team out of camp. That's what I'm shooting for."

UNLV coach Tim Chambers, who coached Harper last season at CSN, speculated the right fielder will start this year with the Double-A Harrisburg (Pa.) Senators. But Chambers said it shouldn't be long before Harper is in the majors.

"I think he can hit there right now, personally," he said. "I'm guessing less than a year and a half (to reach the majors)."

Chambers and Florida Marlins relief pitcher Mike Dunn also had their CSN jerseys retired in front of about 250 fans. Chambers, who wore No. 6, coached the Coyotes for their first 11 seasons and guided them to the juco national title in 2003. Dunn, a Cimarron-Memorial High School product who wore No. 44 at CSN, played for the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves before being traded to Florida in the Dan Uggla deal Nov. 16.

Harper left Las Vegas High after his sophomore year, earned a GED and enrolled at CSN. In his only season he hit .443 and shattered CSN season records for home runs (31) and RBIs (98) en route to earning the Golden Spikes Award as the nation's top amateur player.

He crushed 500-foot home runs and in consecutive playoff games hit for the cycle and went 6-for-6 with four homers and 10 RBIs to lead the Coyotes to the Junior College World Series.

"There was a lot of speculation that he was making the wrong decision, that a junior in high school can't come out in our league, with wood bats and good pitching, and have success, let alone break all the league records and school records," Chambers said. "It was just incredible what he was doing.

"I think he's the greatest amateur player of all time."

After getting drafted by the Nationals and signing a $9.9 million, five-year contract, Harper put up impressive numbers in limited action in the Arizona Fall League against other elite prospects. The converted catcher batted .343 with a homer and 11 RBIs in 35 at-bats.

In preparation for spring training in Viera, Fla., Harper has been working out daily at Tim Soder Physical Therapy with Dunn, Aaron Rowand and other pro players and hitting each day with his father, Ron.

"Big league spring training is going to be a blast," he said. "I'm really excited about that, to go out there with (Washington sluggers) Jayson Werth and (Ryan) Zimmerman and the guys. It's going to be a great experience."

■ NOTES -- CSN led 4-0 after five innings, but Arizona Western scored four runs in each of the sixth and seventh innings. Cameron Harper, Jordan Stewart and Tyler Blair had two hits apiece for the 22nd-ranked Coyotes, and starter Chipper Smith allowed three hits and had 10 strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.