Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper hit his first Grapefruit League home run in a recent spring training game, signaling his readiness for the upcoming World Baseball Classic. The slugger expressed excitement about joining Team USA for the international tournament. Harper's strong start in spring training includes a .375 batting average over four games.
In Dunedin, Florida, Bryce Harper demonstrated his form by hitting his first home run of the Grapefruit League during the Philadelphia Phillies' 7-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark on Saturday. The home run left his bat at 93.8 mph, contributing to his early spring stats: batting .375 (3-for-8) with two doubles, one home run, four RBIs, three walks, and three strikeouts in four games. Four of the six balls he has put in play have been hit at 94.8 mph or harder.
Harper attributed his performance to discipline at the plate. "Just trying to get pitches in the zone, swing at strikes and take my walks when I can," he said. "I think I’ve done a pretty good job at that the four games I’ve played."
Following the game, Harper was set to fly to Phoenix with Phillies teammates Kyle Schwarber, Brad Keller, and others to join Team USA for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. This marks his first appearance with the national team as a Major League Baseball player, having previously represented the United States twice as an amateur, where his teams went undefeated in both tournaments.
"Really excited," Harper said. "Excited to get out there, get in front of the team and have some fun with some really good players." He added optimism about the roster: "When I was younger, we won... If we can... go out there and do what we need to do, then [we have] the possibility to do the same thing. I know a lot of guys are looking forward to it. We’ve got a really good group of guys, really good group of pitchers and position players. Great stuff. Just really looking forward to it."
Team USA is placed in Pool B in Houston, alongside Italy and Mexico. Aaron Nola will pitch for Italy, while Taijuan Walker represents Mexico. Potential matchups include Phillies teammate Cristopher Sánchez, who pitched for the Dominican Republic and impressed in two innings against the Blue Jays on Saturday. "You better pick and choose what you want to swing at," Harper said of Sánchez. "His stuff is moving all over the plate. He’s definitely one of the best in baseball right now from the left side. So it’d definitely be a tall task."
Another possible Phillies connection arises in a championship scenario against Venezuela, where left-hander Jesús Luzardo is on the reserve list and has maintained contact with manager Omar López, per El Extrabase’s Daniel Álvarez-Montes.
