Bryce Harper's MVP-caliber season has already guaranteed him a starting spot on the National League All-Star team thanks to fan voting, but he won't participate in the Home Run Derby this year.
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The Washington Nationals outfielder said he was on the fence about partaking in the long-ball contest, but after some deliberating he decided not to after all.
According to a tweet from Washington Post beat reporter Chelsea Janes, Harper has opted not to partake in the event.
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Harper had previously told ESPN Radio that he was debating whether or not to do the derby.
"I'll make my decision probably before the game today," Harper told Kevin Sheehan and Thom Loverro on ESPN 980's The Sports Fix, according to the Washington Post. "It's such a fun event for the fans and all of baseball, and there are some great guys doing this this year, so we'll see how I feel and I'll make that decision today."
While he won't be in the derby, Harper will be showcased as one of the starting outfielders for the National League in the 86th annual MLB All-Star Game on July 15, though he'll be a spectator when the Home Run Derby is played the night before.
Harper, who leads the MLB with a .474 on-base percentage, a .722 slugging percentage and a 1.196 OPS entering Monday's game against the Reds in the nation's capital, set an NL record by garnering 13.86 million fan votes to start the game.
Harper, 22, participated in the Home Run Derby at New York's Citi Field in 2013, but he said his father being unable to throw to him due to rotator cuff surgery also factored into his decision.
While some players don't participate in the contest because they believe it hurts their swings, Harper doesn't subscribe to that theory.
"Everybody says that [the Home Run Derby] changes your swing and this and that," Harper said. "I don't think that. I mean, I could go and play a round of golf right now and come in and play a baseball game tonight and I wouldn't feel any different."
Harper is tied for second in the majors with 25 homers this season and he said he will definitely return to the Home Run Derby in 2018 when the Nationals play host to the All-Star festivities.
"I'm not sure about today, but definitely in [20]18, I'll do the derby in '18 here at Nats Park, no doubt in my mind, Harper said. "I'm looking forward to that, too. So, we'll see how I feel today and make my decision before the game."
The 2015 MLB Home Run Derby takes place from Great American Ball Park next Monday night with a new format that will see a bracket-style elimination system and timed rounds instead of outs.
Harper won't be in the bracket, but perhaps in 2018 the stars will align in the nation's capital for the superstar.
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