With eight All-Star selections, two NL MVP awards and several other notable honors to his name, Bryce Harper is one of the finest hitters in world baseball.
At the moment, the first baseman is in action for team USA at the World Baseball Classic. Though the tournament has just begun, it appears Harper already has one eye on the future.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Bryce Harper revealed his desire for baseball to be one of the sports included in the 2028 Olympic Games, which will take place in LA. Were such a scenario to occur, the infielder expressed his eagerness to compete for his country on the “biggest stage.”
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Further, Harper explained why he thinks allowing MLB superstars to take the field for their respective nations at the Olympic Games could be “good for baseball.”
“Yeah, I’ve been fighting for LA ’28 for a long time,” Harper said. I think my whole career, I’ve been trying to get something started or get something to come up. Obviously, the WBC has been great. But, it’s not the Olympics, right? That’s no disrespect to the WBC or anything, but everybody knows when the Olympics are on, everybody is watching. Don’t matter what sport it is.
“It could be the most random sport, and it’s got all the fans watching it. I’m hoping LA ’28, happens. I’m hoping the next CBA agreement, something can happen where teams and players can come to an agreement on taking that two-week break, especially with it being in our home country. It would be great for baseball. You talk about growing the game. Being able to grow it at the highest level would help out tremendously.”
“He’s got to be that guy” – Bryce Harper supports Aaron Judge’s captaincy credentials for team USA
On Monday’s episode of the Pat McAfee Show, Bryce Harper explained why he thinks Aaron Judge is the perfect candidate to lead team USA at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
“Judgey, just the way he kind of approaches it, obviously he plays in such a big market in New York. He’s got to be that guy, that’s what it is,” Harper said (Timestamp: 0:22).
“There’s nobody else I’d rather be wearing the captaincy on his chest than Judgey. I’m excited to play with him, I’ve been excited to play with him the whole time.”
Having started their tournament with a 15-5 win against Brazil, Bryce Harper and company lock horns now shift their focus to Saturday’s fixture against Great Britain.
Edited by Raghav Mehta
