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1 of 5 | Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (pictured) will subordinate Aaron Judge successful nan Team USA lineup astatine nan 2026 World Baseball Classic. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper will make his World Baseball Classic debut for Team USA this spring, he announced Tuesday connected Instagram.
The two-time MVP will subordinate a lineup that includes chap sluggers Aaron Judge, Kyle Schwarber and Cal Raleigh among others.
"Put nan colors connected my chest for nan first clip erstwhile I was 15," Harper wrote connected nan societal media platform. "No different emotion for illustration it. I'm excited to denote I will beryllium representing Team USA this twelvemonth successful nan WBC. Merica!"
Harper announced plans successful 2022 to compete successful nan 2023 version of nan tournament, but was incapable to play because he was recovering from Tommy John surgery.
The Phillies first baseman deed .261 pinch 27 location runs and 75 RBIs complete 132 appearances successful 2025. He deed .285 pinch 30 homers and 87 RBIs complete 145 appearances successful 2024.
The erstwhile Washington Nationals prima won his 2nd National League MVP grant during his 3rd play pinch nan Phillies, erstwhile he deed .309 pinch 35 homers and 84 RBIs complete 141 games.
Harper owns a profession .280 mean pinch 363 location runs complete 14 MLB seasons.
The 2026 World Baseball Classic will beryllium held from March 5 to 17 successful Miami, Houston, Tokyo and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Team USA will return connected nan San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies successful 2 respective accumulation games March 3 and 4 successful Scottsdale, Ariz.
Harper and nan Americans will conflict Brazil successful their World Baseball Classic opener March 6 successful Houston.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (C) celebrates pinch teammates aft nan Dodgers conclusion nan Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 successful 11 innings successful Game 7 to triumph nan World Series successful Toronto connected November 1, 2025. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
