Bryce Harper, a 17 year old catcher who skipped his senior season of High School to enter the Major League Draft may have gone through all the trouble for nothing. Harper, represented by super agent Scott Boras has until midnight on Monday to sign a contract with the Washington Nationals, or he must sit out an entire season (from affiliated baseball) in order to be drafted again.

We have seen Boras convince players like J.D. Drew and others, not to sign with the team that originally drafted them in the past. Drew ended up playing for an independent league team while he waited to be eligible for the MLB draft again.

In Bryce Harper’s case however, it would be almost unimaginable to see him not sign with the Nationals after working so hard to forgo his senior year of high school. Harper worked extra hard on his academics so that he could graduate high school early and play professional ball. Most people expect him to sign with the Nationals before the deadline, but no one can be certain.

The Nationals signed Stephen Strausburg, their #1 overall pick from 2009 at the last minute last year, so there is no reason to think a similar scenario won’t play out with Harper.