Phillies’ Bryce Harper changing from No. 34 to No. 3 to honor late Roy Halladay

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Bryce Harper was just 19 years old when he first faced Roy Halladay. It was three weeks earlier that Harper had rocketed to the majors after playing only 130 minor-league games. Harper was a sensation. But he was also just a teenager.

And here — in May 2012 — he was stepping into the box against one of the most feared pitchers in the game. The teenager grounded a single through the infield. The batter won that meeting, but it would be the pitcher who left the impact.

“He's somebody in this game who is greater than a lot of guys that have ever played it,” Harper said. “A Hall of Famer, somebody that played the game the right way, was a great person and was one of the nicest people I've ever met, being able to play across from him in 2012.”

Halladay’s impression was great enough for Harper, after signing with the Phillies, to decide against wearing No. 34 — the number Harper wore with the Nationals and Halladay wore with the Phillies. Harper wore 34 in tribute to Mickey Mantle, as Harper’s number added up to Mantle’s No. 7.

Harper will wear No. 3 with the Phillies.

“I thought Roy Halladay should be the last one to wear" 34, Harper said. “For me, it’s Roy Halladay. He’s 34. He’s what represents that number in Philly. When you go in there, you see his name on that flagpole in center field. That’s something he should be remembered for.”

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The Phillies have yet to announce if they will officially retire Halladay’s number, but they are considering it as he will be posthumously inducted this summer into the Baseball Hall of Fame. If Harper requested it, he likely would have been given No. 7, which is worn by Maikel Franco.

“He’s a teammate of mine,” Harper said of Franco. “He’s somebody that I didn’t want to ask for the number. I didn’t feel right doing that. I don’t know if that has any significance to him, being No. 7. But I didn’t want to find out. He’s No. 7 on the Phillies, and he should be able to wear that number every single day.”

So Harper picked No. 3, which he said is a “family number.” His brother, Bryan, and father, Ron, wore it in high school. His mother wore No. 13. For Harper, it’s a new look.

“My wife isn’t very happy about the number because she likes even numbers,” Harper cracked. “Looking down, seeing No. 3, is going to be a little tough for her. But it’s pretty much a family number. And it looks OK.”

Harper missed the first weeks of spring training, but he doesn’t seem worried about being ready for the season. He is expected to work out Sunday morning at the team’s complex and take batting practice.

“I enjoyed home for another two weeks. I enjoyed hanging out with my friends and getting my work in as well,” Harper said. “Hitting and doing all the things I needed to get ready for spring. I think the worst part is seeing guys going out there and getting into that groove of being in the clubhouse atmosphere and being around all the guys and stuff like that.

"But for me, you really don’t play that first week of spring anyways. So if it was going to take some time, it was going to take some time. I knew at the end of the day that being able to sign with Philly was the right choice for me. We made it happen about 27 days before Opening Day, so I think I’m OK.”

The Phillies blasted the Rays, 11-3, in Port Charlotte as Harper was being introduced. Drew Butera, competing for the job as the backup catcher, hit a homer, and Andrew McCutchen went 2 for 3. ... Zach Eflin made his spring debut and allowed one run in three innings with two strikeouts and one walk. ... Jake Arrieta makes his spring debut Sunday in Fort Myers against the Twins.