As announced on ESPN Friday night, Bryce Harper has been elected as a starter for the National League in the 2022 MLB All-Star Game. Even though he won’t play due to a fractured left thumb, he’ll go down as the first-ever fan-elected National League starter at designated hitter.
Harper, 29, is now a seven-time All-Star. It’s his first All-Star nod since 2018, his last season with the Washington Nationals. Before going down with a thumb fracture on June 25, Harper was slashing .318/.385/.599 with 15 home runs and 48 RBIs while serving primarily as the Phillies’ designated hitter.