The 2026 World Baseball Classic ended with a disappointment for Team USA. Although the United States was the heavy favorite on Tuesday, it lost 3-2 to Venezuela in the final.
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Most of the players were sad to lose, and several players from the U.S. team took home silver medals immediately on the field. Team manager Mark DeRosa said players were “hurt” in the locker room after the loss.
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But one player managed to deal with the disappointment quickly, ultimately handing out the award to the winner. Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper reappeared in full uniform during Venezuela’s on-field celebrations, shaking hands and congratulating players on the winning team.
It’s unclear if any other players on Team USA have followed Harper’s lead.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Harper was asked about the move after the game and said he had “nothing but respect” for the Venezuelan players.
“I wanted to win the gold medal, just like everybody else. But at the end of the night, man, they did it. They won. All congratulations to them and everything they did, they fought hard, they had a great game. I have nothing but respect for them.”
Harper was one of the few players on Team USA who performed well on Tuesday. He hit a home run off Andres Machado in the eighth inning, giving the team his only two runs. That homer briefly tied the game, but the Americans couldn’t hold on to the lead in the ninth.
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Harper was essentially the only offensive bright spot for Team USA in the game. The Americans managed just three hits in the final. Harper was responsible for two of them. Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang was the only player on Team USA to have a hit.
The loss marked the United States’ second consecutive loss in the World Baseball Classic final. In 2023, the team played another close game but failed to defeat Shohei Ohtani and the Japanese team.
With the 2026 World Baseball Classic officially coming to an end, Harper and the rest of Team USA will return to MLB teams to prepare for the regular season. Harper and the Phillies were once again considered one of the best teams in the National League.
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Maybe the elite sportsmanship Harper showed on Tuesday will translate into good charisma for the Phillies in 2026.
