In Bryce Harper's last home game, Victor Robles was the star

Bryce Harper was introduced to the National Park Wednesday afternoon more than three hours before the start of the game against the Marlins. put on his jersey long before having to so that it can properly appreciate what it was like wearing it for what could be the last time.

In the last days, Harper was much more open on where the future could take it than ever before. He spoke to the Washington Post how much he likes DC, how much he wants to be part of the team's plans, but know that this is not a guarantee, and seemed ready to face a dead season that will end years of rumors about possible landing places for the young star. After another frenzy of free agency, of course.

No we know what the off season will bringbut everyone was rightly treated as a goodbye. Better to give him a good start and let him take his time before behaving as if everything was normal.

So, on Wednesday, Harper was just focused on soaking everything for possibly the last time in a white uniform. Fans helped him with standing ovations during his first two trips on the set and extra enthusiastic applause every time he had to get up after that. At the top of the first, Harper ran in his place in right field and nodded in front of the crowd. Recognizing their support and appreciation of fans after spending most of the decade in the White and Red Championships.

But for those looking for a heroic final position at D.C. for Bryce, hitting another bomb or two in front of a stadium full of people who were only there to see him again, that was not the case. Like the team's performance in the last year of his contract, Harper fell flat on his last lap.

Even the weather seemed to agree, shorten things before he could finish properly and give the Nationales a 9-3 win in an eight-game rain-cut match.

It was not the enthusiasm of the Derby Home Run, which Harper won in front of thousands of screaming Nationals in his park. In fact, this will probably end up being the first thing people will think about when they remember the last season of Harper's Dc.

Yet a right-wing defender performed a show this afternoon in Washington, but it turned out to be Harper's potential replacement, not Harper. Victor Robles, the 21-year-old talent of the Dominican Republic, played in a 4-on-5 match with 5 RBIs and a 3-point homerun.

If Wednesday was actually a passing torch, which is impossible to confirm at this time, but a reasonable result, then it could not have gone better. As a farewell to Harper and Harper for the fanbase, it was awful. Still, Robles' day at the plate was probably a more necessary performance in the long run.

Washington has a lot of good memories of Bryce Harper. None of them can involve winning a playoff series, but they do exist. So if he walks and receives his $ 350 million paycheck from another city, he will be able to count on years of surveillance as he faces the confirmed loss of one of the city's best stars. But now, they also have a new memory of Robles who enlighten them at home to remind them what the future might be like with a new young star.

If you put it in a historical context, it is even more impressive than the raw numbers.

The bitterness of Harper's departure has long been anticipated (and those who agree to leave as a free agent may use this game as another sign that it is not worth it). Unfortunately, if he leaves, he will not leave with a ring on his finger – fortunately, Washington fans have had at least one end of championship drought – but at least, we feel that all will not be lost if that occurs. One day when it would have been magic for Harper to hit a circuit or rally crowd, Robles assumed that responsibility and did it for him in the win.

He did not need the end of Harper's time in his national uniform, but it's probably the one that best suits the team in the long run if he's about to be no longer part of it .