Bryce Harper will represent the home team at a Home Run Derby once again.
“Derby at home? Sure why not?” Harper wrote in an Instagram post Thursday evening, becoming the sixth known entrant out of eight.
Harper last appeared in the Derby in 2018, when he was a member of the Nationals and All-Star festivities were held in Washington. He won the contest while adorned in American red, white and blue.
Fans should expect something similar Monday in Philadelphia, in the middle of the city’s semiquincentennial celebrations. Harper, who will appear in his ninth All-Star Game the following night, will compete for the first time as a member of the Phillies.
The two-time MVP, 33, has 20 home runs through 93 games this season.
There are two spots in the field remaining after St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker was named to the field earlier Thursday.
A first-time All-Star, Walker entered Thursday with a career-high 21 home runs and led Major League Baseball with 70 RBIs in a breakout season in St. Louis. Walker, 24, is the first Cardinals player in the annual slugfest since Albert Pujols in 2022.
Fans at Citizens Bank Ballpark on Monday night would be advised to take cover. Walker is averaging 94.2 mph exit velocity, tied for fifth among qualified hitters, per Statcast.
Walker and Harper will participate alongside Rays third baseman Junior Caminero, Yankees first baseman Ben Rice, Royals outfielder Jac Caglianone and Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras.
