Bryce Harper has made it clear that playing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is a goal he’s pursued throughout his career. With the Summer Games just over two years away, Harper is hopeful that Major League Baseball and the players’ union will reach an agreement to allow top players to represent their countries and compete for gold on home soil.
Harper emphasized the significance of the Olympics compared to other international events.
“I’ve been fighting for LA28 for a long time,”
Harper said.
“I think my whole career I’ve been trying to get something started or something coming up. Obviously, the WBC has been great, but it’s not the Olympics, right? That’s no disrespect to the WBC or anything, but everybody knows that when the Olympics are on, everybody’s watching. It doesn’t matter what sport it is; it could be the most random sport, and it’s got all the fans watching it.”
Challenges MLB Faces in Allowing Player Participation
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred expressed openness last year to the idea of MLB players participating in the 2028 Olympics. However, the critical obstacle remains: the Olympics take place during the regular MLB season. This scheduling conflict previously prevented players on 40-man rosters from competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The league is exploring options to extend its All-Star break, but securing such a change requires negotiations involving the team owners, players’ union, and terms within the next collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which expires after the 2026 season amid speculation about a potential lockout.
Harper’s Hope for a CBA Breakthrough Supporting Olympic Competition
Harper remains optimistic that the upcoming CBA negotiations will create an opportunity for players to take a break from MLB and participate in LA28. “I’m hoping LA28 happens,” he remarked.
“I’m hoping the next CBA agreement something can happen where teams and players can come to an agreement on taking that two-week break, especially being in our home country. It would be great for baseball. You talk about growing the game, and being able to grow it at the highest level would help out tremendously.”
Contrasting the World Baseball Classic and the Olympics’ Global Spotlight
While the World Baseball Classic (WBC) continues to gain traction and is expected to be a success once again, it has yet to reach the broad cultural impact and global platform of the Olympics. The WBC primarily captures the attention of devoted baseball followers and spectators in baseball-centric countries such as Japan, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. In contrast, the Olympics attract a massively diverse worldwide audience regardless of sport, as demonstrated by the recent Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, which drew remarkable viewership for disciplines ranging from figure skating to curling.
The Olympics’ expansive appeal means that even niche sports and unfamiliar events attract viewers—people are willing to watch extraordinary competitions they usually wouldn’t follow, such as luge races in the dead of night. This level of engagement is what baseball aims to tap into during LA28. Instead of appealing solely to dedicated fans who track players’ stats, the sport could reach casual viewers across the globe.
The Timing Advantage and Opportunity for Baseball at LA28
The WBC takes place in March, a period when baseball competes for attention alongside other major sporting events like March Madness. By contrast, the Summer Olympics occur in July, a time when baseball typically dominates the calendar. However, MLB has never fully capitalized on this moment to elevate the sport’s standing. LA28 presents a unique chance to showcase baseball at the highest level, on a stage that draws the world’s eyes.
Harper’s Career Perspective and Baseball’s Future at the Olympics
By the time the Los Angeles Games arrive, Harper will be 36 years old and likely approaching the twilight of his career. Despite his extensive accomplishments, representing the United States at the Olympics remains an achievement he has yet to experience. Whether baseball will allow this opportunity depends on the willingness of MLB leadership and stakeholders to embrace a rare occasion to grow the sport internationally and secure baseball’s place on the Olympic stage.
Bryce Harper: "The WBC's been great, but it's not the Olympics… It's no disrespect to WBC or anything, but everybody knows that when the Olympics are on, everybody's watching… I'm hoping LA28 happens…" ⚾️🎙️🇺🇸🌎 #WBC #MLB
(via @JeffSkversky) pic.twitter.com/do4KvrGKwN
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 7, 2026
