Baseball and softball will return to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, the International Olympic Committee declared on Monday. Bryce Harper, a prominent player for the Philadelphia Phillies, expressed his desire to compete and his hope that Major League Baseball would let its players to take part.
Harper remarked, “My wife actually had a hair appointment this morning and she texted me ‘Happy Birthday’ with that,” before Monday’s NLCS Game 1—which also happens to be his 31st birthday. “Hey, I guess one of your birthday wishes got [granted] forever,” she added. It’s always a dream, but I’m going to be elderly by then, so I’m not sure whether they’ll want me on the squad. Everyone’s dream, in my opinion, is to compete in the Olympics, particularly this one.”
Baseball’s official existence spanned from 1992 to 2008, but it was classified as a showcase sport in Seoul in 1988 and an exhibition sport in Los Angeles in 1984. Minor leaguers filled the U.S. rosters when professional players were initially permitted in 2000 but MLB refused to release its players. Baseball was removed from the Olympic schedule by the IOC in 2008, but it was added again when Tokyo hosted the 2020 Games (held in 2021).
Minor leaguers were once again on the U.S. squad, although Nippon Professional Baseball suspended its season to let its finest pros to participate.
Major League Baseball and its owners should allow players to play in 2028, according to Harper.
“You talk about growing the game and that’s the way you grow it to the highest peak, you have guys who are playing in the league take that break, just like in the NHL, and see what happens,” he said. “It seems like a lot of fun and incredibly cool.
“I would want to wear the word ‘USA’ on my breast and represent my country at the greatest level, but I don’t know whether they’ll ever go for it. Although everyone enjoys the WBC and thinks it’s excellent for the sport, it’s not the Olympics.
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