Harper latest superstar to join Team USA at 2023 WBC
Team USA has yet another superstar on its roster.
Reigning National League MVP Bryce Harper has committed to representing his country at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Major League Baseball announced Friday.
Last year’s MVP is #ALLIN for the #WorldBaseballClassic. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/MBpDHXelHA
— MLB (@MLB) August 12, 2022
The WBC has been contested twice since Harper reached the majors in 2012, but this will be his first time participating in the tournament. The Las Vegas native last played for Team USA at the 2009 Pan-American Junior Championships where he won a gold medal on the under-18 national team.
Harper will share an outfield with Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout, who was named captain of Team USA last month. The U.S. has also received commitments from Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story, Paul Goldschmidt, and Harper's Phillies teammate J.T. Realmuto.
Team USA, the reigning WBC champions, will play its opening round of the 2023 tournament at Chase Field in Phoenix from March 11-15. Its first-round opponents include Mexico, Colombia, and Canada, plus a fifth country that'll advance from next month's qualification tournaments.
Harper, 29, owns a .318/.385/.599 slash line with 15 homers and 48 RBIs across 64 games for the Philadelphia Phillies this season. He's currently on the injured list because of a thumb ailment.