‘It’s Not the Same’; Bryce Harper Snubs the World Baseball Classic by Making a Plea to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred

Is there something bigger than the Olympics? No, if one listens to Bryce Harper. The explosive Philadelphia Phillies superstar hasn’t ever been short of ambition. From day one he’s wanted to do it all in baseball. However, while there are still a few things that Harper needs to achieve, it looks like playing the Olympics is one of the biggest items on his bucket list. That became visible again during the London Series last weekend.

While the Phillies and the New York Mets took part in a successful series, Harper had his eyes on other things too. Playing in London, he knew that right next door was France where the Olympics were about to take place. Though baseball won’t be played this year, it will be in 2028 when the mega event makes its way to the US. And that gave Harper a reason to request a big change from the MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.

Major League Baseball star Bryce Harper has a dream: representing the USA at the Olympics. To make that happen, he’s advocating for MLB to follow the lead of the WNBA and NHL by pausing the season for future Olympic baseball tournaments. Team USA traditionally relies on minor leaguers and veterans, but Harper is hungry for a chance to wear the red, white, and blue on the biggest international stage.

The 2028 Summer Olympics are in Los Angeles and baseball is making a return after being played on a trial basis in 2020, and after not being played in 2016 nor 2012. “There’s nothing more worldwide than the Olympics,” Harper said as per New York Post. “I watch the most random sports in the Olympics because it’s the Olympics, and that’s really cool. I love hockey. It’s one of my favorite sports to watch. To see (the NHL) take that three-week break and let those guys go play, that’s another big goal that we should have as Major League Baseball.”

Later, Harper revealed that he has talked to numerous people in MLB about it. However, the biggest statement came when he explained how the World Baseball Classic isn’t the same. “I would love to be a part of that. We have the (WBC), but it’s not the same. It’s not. The Olympics is something that you dream about playing,” Harper said. Moreover, the Philadelphia Phillies superstar admitted that not having baseball permanently “in the Olympics is really tough.” But he went on to reveal the “big goal” for MLB.

“My biggest thing is the Olympics, when you have sports in the Olympics, and understanding the sports, there is nothing more worldwide than that,” said Harper. “Not having baseball in the Olympics is really tough. I love hockey and it’s one of my favorite sports to watch and seeing that in the Olympics is one of the coolest things ever. They take that three-week break and let those guys go and go play. That’s another big goal we should have in Major League Baseball.”

The Philadelphia Phillies star will be 35 by the time the 2028 Olympics arrives. He was selected for WBC 2023 but had to pull out due to his Tommy John surgery in 2022. However, you might wonder, why Bryce Harper wants to change the current situation in MLB?

Currently, the selection system prohibits major league players from becoming part of the Olympics. Only amateurs and players not on the 40-man roster can take part in the Olympics. As a result, if Bryce Harper remains a major league player by 2028, he won’t be able to play in the Olympics if things remain the same. One can’t say that the US hasn’t suffered due to this rule.

Baseball became an official medal sport in 1992. Since then the US National team has won only one gold medal (in 2000).The 2021 USA team, featuring former MLB players like Scott Kazmir and Edwin Jackson, secured silver. Their opponent, Japan, benefitted from a paused domestic league, allowing players like future Dodger Yoshinobu Yamamoto to compete. It’s to be noted that Japan paused its NPB season for 2020 Tokyo Olympics, leading to their top players taking part in the competition. 

For the unversed, Bryce Harper’s London adventure took a thrilling turn as he became an overnight hero in the MLB London Series.

Tourist by Day, MVP by Night: Harper steals the show in London Series

Fresh off a tourist adventure in London, Bryce Harper brought his hot bat to the MLB London Series. The Phillies’ star, who previously represented Team USA at the U-18 level in 2009, shined at first base. In the first game, he went 3-for-4 and ignited a six-run rally in the fourth inning, leading Philadelphia to a 7-2 victory. The Mets took the second game 6-5, with Harper contributing a 1-for-3 performance at the plate.

Before that, he enjoyed London as a tourist. “Being able to walk around and be, you know, kind of just another person out there has been great,” he told MLB.com. Adding another layer of fun, Harper participated in a unique first-pitch ceremony alongside Phillies legend Chase Utley, actor/director Rob McElhenney (a Philadelphia native known for the sitcom “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”), and McElhenney’s wife/co-star Kaitlin Olson.

What’s next? The 2028 Olympics are scheduled for July 14-30. Will MLB consider a pause to allow top players to compete? Perhaps it could but it certainly won’t be a simple decision to make.