Bryce Harper says he will not participate in the Home Run Derby
Washington Nationals superstar Bryce Harper will not participate in the Home Run Derby this season. Harper told reporters Monday that he is going to skip the event.
Harper cited a couple of reasons for declining the invite.
Harper’s father, Ron, had rotator cuff surgery recently, and wouldn’t be able to throw to Bryce during the contest. Last month, Harper told the Washington Post that it wouldn’t be the same without his dad throwing to him.
“If I win it for the first time, I want it to be with my dad,” Harper said. “That’s something really special. We’ll see. I’ve still gotta make the all-star team.”
He also mentioned that he didn’t want to alter his routine. There’s some evidence that participating in the event can mess up a player’s swing for the second half. Harper may have been referring to that theory.
It should also be noted that Harper hasn’t participated in on-field batting practice all season. He says taking four or five rounds before games can be tiring, and he’s trying to conserve energy. Given how tiring the Home Run Derby can be, it makes sense for Harper to bow out considering his routine this season.
While Harper’s reasons for skipping the event are understandable, his absence definitely hurts Major League Baseball. With Giancarlo Stanton and Miguel Cabrera unable to participate due to injuries, the Derby could lack some star power this year.
Paul Goldschmidt and Mike Trout can probably still headline the event, but MLB will miss those three studs. Hometown guy Todd Frazier should get the fans excited, but he doesn’t have the same draw for a national audience just yet.
One would assume Josh Donaldson, Nolan Arenado and Manny Machado could all be asked to participate. And Joc Pederson would be a tremendous candidate if he makes the team. That’s not a bad list, and it mixes established stars with up-and-coming youngsters.
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Still, Harper’s absence is significant. The 22-year-old has established himself as the best player in the game this season. His .347/.474/.722 slash line is completely bananas. He’s the one star fans should be lining up to watch, and he’s not going to take part in one of baseball’s big events.
It’s tough to criticize Harper for the decision, given that his primary focus should be winning a championship for the Nationals, but we’re still allowed to be sad that he won’t be out there hitting dingers and flipping his glorious hair.
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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik
