Bryce Harper won’t participate in this year’s Home Run Derby, not wanting to compete in the annual All-Star Game event with his father injured and unavailable to pitch to him.
Harper, who finished runner-up in the 2013 derby at Citi Field with father Ron as his pitcher, said he couldn’t imagine participating again with anybody else on the mound. Ron Harper recently had surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff and hasn’t fully healed yet.
“Not having my dad throw with me, it’s a huge issue for me,” Harper said Monday afternoon before the Nationals’ series opener against the Reds.