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Bryce Harper will play for Team USA for the first time since 2009 in the World Baseball Classic, and he is “very much looking forward” to the opportunity.
But before the two-time MVP talked about the WBC during a recent appearance on “Bussin’ With The Boys,” Harper and the hosts, former NFL players Taylor Lewan and Will Compton, discussed recent comments from some U.S. Olympians about how it has felt unimportant to represent the Stars and Stripes on the grand scale.
“It’s crazy,” Harper said simply.
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Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park on April 14, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
The Philadelphia Phillies first baseman said that no matter where you stand politically, representing the United States is always the greatest honor.
“Obviously there’s stuff going on in the country that you know isn’t good or people don’t believe or what, right? Politics aside, to me, when you go and represent your country, you’re representing your country, man. Like, block all that out. That’s sports.
“We want to put something on TV that’s happy and good and just great for everyone to see, right? So representing your country, there’s nothing better than representing your country. There’s really nothing at all.”
Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates after hitting a grand slam during the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Citizens Bank Park on June 5, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
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Freeskier Hunter Hess said he had “mixed feelings” representing the United States in Milan, while skier Mikaela Shiffrin said she wanted to represent her own “values” and it was “hard to reconcile” violence in America while “competing for medals at an Olympic event.”
In an interview with Pakinomist Digital months before the 2024 Summer Olympics, Noah Lyles said representing the United States was “bittersweet” and came with a “heavy heart,” saying black people in America have “a lot to deal with.”
Philadelphia Phillies’ Bryce Harper celebrates his two-run home run during the first inning of Game 3 of baseball’s World Series between the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Harper was supposed to play in the WBC in 2023, but rehabbed from Tommy John surgery. This year, he joins a stacked roster alongside Aaron Judge, Paul Skenes, Tarik Skubal and Cal Raleigh.
