Nationals Star Bryce Harper Added to All-Star Team

Washington Nationals Phenom, teenager Bryce Harper, has been added to the National League All-Star team as an injury replacement. He replaces Miami Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton. Harper becomes the youngest position player ever to be named to the All-Star team. He is also the third youngest behind pitchers Dwight Gooden and Bob Feller.

Harper said after the teams latest victory over the Colorado Rockies,

“Words can’t explain it right now. I think it’s exciting to go and I’m excited to get there and be around all the top guys in the country, of course, top guys in baseball. So I’m just going to take it all in, try to enjoy it with the family and try to just be as mellow and calm as I can.”

Harper and the Nationals are in first place atop the National League East. Harper has been enjoying a .283 batting average with eight home runs and 25 Runs Batted In.

With the addition of Harper to the team there are now going to be five rookies on the All-Star teams.

The other four are:

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Wade Miley

Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Ryan Cook

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout.

Harper is replacing Giancarlo Stanton who has been fighting a right knee injury. He missed four games late last month. When he came back to the big leagues this week he only lasted two innings. He is out for at least a month while he undergoes arthroscopic knee surgery.