Bryce Harper

Voting for the 2012 All-Star Game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City is under way, with the first results being released this past Tuesday.

One name missing from the ballot is Bryce Harper's, and many are probably wondering the same thing I am—does he deserve to partake in the weekend's events?

Let's just take a look at his numbers.

Stephen Strasburg allowed the Boston Red Sox to put two runs on the board in the second inning to take an early lead over the Washington Nationals on Friday night at Fenway Park.

Bryce Harper wasted no time taking part in the rally in the next half-inning that allowed the Nationals to take a 3-2 lead, a lead that they would never give back.

Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper are the future of the Washington Nationals. 

Strasburg will be the ace of a formidable starting rotation for years to come, and Bryce Harper will anchor the outfield and the lineup with his five-tool talent. The future is in good hands. 

Here are seven reasons why the Washington Nationals need to quickly sign both players to long-term contracts to ensure the successful future of the franchise.

Playing Rough

Something you hear a lot about from fans is the lack of an "old-school" mentality in the modern game of baseball.

Few prospects have been hyped for as long or as hard as the Nationals' Bryce Harper.  When third baseman Ryan Zimmerman was put on the 15-day disabled list it heralded the call-up heard 'round the baseball world: Harper's debut.

Just when you thought the Washington Nationals might lose a one-run game at home, they come from behind again to win against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Stephen Strasburg looked good on Friday night, but was the victim of the ball jumping out of Nationals Park. Hunter Pence and Carlos Ruiz connected for surprisingly long home runs. When they landed, they accounted for a total of three runs.

I hate Matt Kemp.

As a diehard San Francisco Giants fan, I'm contractually obligated to hate the best player on the Los Angeles Dodgers and that is, most definitely, Kemp. Right now, the 27-year-old is the best player in Major League Baseball and the competition ain't particularly close. So, with all due respect to Clayton Kershaw, Kemp is the finest specimen the Bums have to offer and has been for several years now.

The future of baseball has arrived.

With the Saturday debuts of highly touted prospects Bryce Harper and Mike Trout, both the American League and National League are entering a new era.

Obviously it's tough to put such lofty expectations on 19- and 20-year-old kids, but these are legitimately two of the best prospects in the last decade.

Bryce Harper officially makes his MLB debut for the Washington Nationals, thus starting what many think will be a long big-league career.

Some say that Harper should have started the season in Washington, while others believe he should still be in Triple-A to gain more experience.

In 20 games with Syracuse, Harper hit .250 with one home run, three RBI and four doubles.

Shortly after 6:00 p.m. PT, Washington Nationals top prospect Bryce Harper will make his major league debut at Dodger Stadium against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

It's going to be a big moment. Just in case you didn't know that already.