Harper rips MLB for keeping players out of Olympics: 'That's dumb'

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper isn't a fan of major leaguers not being able to play in the Olympics.

"It is such a travesty to me," Harper said on the "Starting 9" podcast. "The (2021) Olympics (is) in Japan, in Tokyo, and you're not sending big-league guys? Are you kidding me? You want to grow the game as much as possible and you're not going to let us play in the Olympics because you don't want to (lose) out on money for a two-week period? OK, that's dumb."

Baseball will be returning to the Summer Olympics in 2021 after a 13-year hiatus - it was an official Olympic sport from 1992 to 2008. However, only amateurs and minor leaguers have ever participated to prevent interference with the MLB season.

"(Major-league players) have to do the Olympics every four years," Harper said. "You want to grow the game? You want to really take it to different countries and different places? The 2021 Olympics are next year because of the coronavirus. Why not shock the world and put all your big leaguers back into the Olympics?"

The six-time All-Star believes playing in a baseball-crazed country like Japan would be great for the game.

"You have (Shohei) Ohtani going back playing for Japan, facing Mike Trout," Harper said. "Just imagine that. ... Can you imagine being in a foreign country, standing on the line, listening to your anthem blare? Dude, there is nothing better. It fires me up sitting here."