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Bryce Harper will play for Team USA for the first time since 2009 in the World Baseball Classic, and he’s very “looking forward” to the opportunity.
But before the two-time MVP spoke 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 he felt indifferent about representing the Stars and Stripes on a large scale.
“It’s crazy,” Harper said simply.
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Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies bats during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park on April 14, 2025, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Émilee Chinn/Getty Images)
The Philadelphia Phillies first baseman said no matter where you stand politically, it’s always the greatest honor to represent the United States.
“Obviously there’s things going on in the country that, you know, aren’t good or people don’t believe in it or whatever, right? Politics aside, to me, when you’re going to represent your country, you represent your country, man. Like, block out all that. That’s sports.
“We want to put something happy and good and just plain awesome on TV that everyone can watch, right? So representing your country, there’s nothing greater than representing your country. There’s really nothing at all.”
Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates after hitting a grand slam in 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 emotions” representing the United States in Milan, while skier Mikaela Shiffrin said she wanted to represent her own “values” and that it was “difficult to reconcile” violence in America while “competing for medals in an Olympic event.”
In an interview with PK Press Club Digital months before the 2024 Summer Olympics, Noah Lyles said representing the United States was “bittersweet” and had a “heavy heart,” saying Black people in America have “a lot to deal with.”
Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates his two-run home run in the first inning of Game 3 of the World Series of Baseball between the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Harper was going to play in the 2023 WBC but was recovering from Tommy John surgery. This year, he joins a loaded roster alongside Aaron Judge, Paul Skenes, Tarik Skubal and Cal Raleigh.
