Harper channels NWO ringside before Derby -- his final one: 'Yeah, I'm done'
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PHILADELPHIA -- Bryce Harper is a Las Vegas kid, so he grew up watching and listening to Michael Buffer introduce boxers before big-time fights.
He grew up watching pro wrestlers Sting and Goldberg, too.
Harper’s childhood returned for a brief moment on Monday night at Citizens Bank Park, where he was introduced as the final contestant of the 2026 Home Run Derby. Harper walked through a gigantic Liberty Bell as Buffer announced his name. Phillies fans roared. Harper waved to the crowd.
He then stepped into a home-plate-shaped ring at second base, put a foot onto the bottom rope and leaned toward the fans behind home plate, firing up the hometown crowd.
“I’ve always wanted to do that,” Harper said. “I felt like Kevin Nash in that situation, NWO.”
Harper hoped to win the Derby in his home ballpark. Instead, he hit eight homers and failed to make the semifinals. His Phillies teammate, Kyle Schwarber, lost to the Cardinals' Jordan Walker in the finals when Walker hit five consecutive home runs to win, 12-11.
“I’ll tell you what,” Harper said. “I thought Kyle had it.”
Harper said he had fun anyway.
“It was great,” he said. “Obviously, I wish I got on a better roll than that, but I had a blast hitting some pretty far ones. That’s always fun.”
Harper had been a reluctant participant of sorts in this year’s Derby. He won the event at Nationals Park in 2018, when he played for the Nationals. His father, Ron Harper, pitched to him that night.
He vowed to never participate in another Derby.
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But with Harper having a fantastic 2026 season and making his ninth NL All-Star team, he said yes to this year’s invite.
“I said I'd never do it again, and you know this is the only reason I'm doing it -- because it's in our ballpark in front of our fans and, you know, the city and stuff like that,” Harper said before the event. “I think obviously if I don't win it, I want Schwarber to win it, and you know vice versa. You know he'd say the same thing about me.”
Harper’s longest home run traveled a projected 482 feet, leaving his bat at 110 mph.
It wasn’t enough.
But Harper will remember this night, even though he fell short of his goal. He and his wife Kayla have had four children since Harper won the 2018 Derby.
TV showed oldest son Krew watching intently as Dad hit.
Was Krew bummed when dad got eliminated?
“He just said he missed me,” Harper said. “I think he just wanted to hang out. … I haven't seen him in about a week and a half. He's been at the beach on a family vacation, so he's been enjoying that while I was enjoying the Midwest. So it was good to see him and my [oldest] daughter [Brooklyn], being able to share this moment with them.”
If you’re wondering, Harper said he has officially retired from the Home Run Derby.
For real this time.
“Obviously, it took a lot for me to do it this time,” he said. “Once you get out there, obviously your adrenaline's going and stuff. You want to have the chance to win it. But yeah, I'm done. I'm gonna hang it up from the All-Star Home Run Derby. I’m glad I got to get one and put that on the mantle.”