Bryce Harper says he intends to play for Team USA in World Baseball Classic

Bryce Harper knows what it feels like to play for his country on the diamond. The Phillies superstar was a member of USA Baseball’s 16U and 18U teams in 2008 and ‘09, respectively. Each of those teams won a gold medal.

More than 15 years later, Harper is ready to represent the United States again. He announced Tuesday that he intends to be on Team USA’s roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

“Put the colors on my chest for the 1st time when I was 15. No other feeling like it,” Harper wrote in an Instagram post. “I’m excited to announce I will be representing Team USA this year in the WBC. Merica! #forglory”

USA Baseball has not yet officially announced Harper’s inclusion, and WBC rosters are subject to change.

Harper committed to play for Team USA in the 2023 WBC, but elbow surgery following the 2022 season kept him out of the event. The United States ended up losing in the championship game to Team Japan, which has won three of the five WBC tournaments.

The 33-year-old Harper is coming off a season in which he hit 27 home runs and recorded an .844 OPS across 580 plate appearances. He would be part of a loaded squad headlined by three-time MVP Aaron Judge, Phillies teammate Kyle Schwarber and both 2025 Cy Young Award winners, Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes.

Team USA will begin its WBC run in Pool B play at 8 p.m. ET on March 6, when it will face Brazil inside Houston’s Daikin Park.