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As Major League Baseball announced the rosters for the 2013 MLB All-Star Game in Citi Field on July 16th, Bryce Harper stepped to the plate with two runners on in the seventh inning of a game with the San Diego Padres in the nation's capital in which the Washington Nationals trailed 4-3. As Harper was announced as part of the starting outfield for the National League in the 84th annual mid-summer classic, the 20-year-old outfielder hit a sac fly that tied the game at 4-4 and set Ryan Zimmerman up for what ended up being a game-winning single.
#Nationals OF Bryce Harper has been named a starter for the 2013 MLB All-Star Game.
— Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) July 6, 2013
After arguing his way into the lineup after Davey Johnson had originally planned on sitting the left-handed hitting slugger, Harper went 1 for 2 with a bases loaded walk and three RBIs, leaving him with a .263/.365/.544 line, seven doubles and 13 HRs in 50 games and 205 plate appearances so far this year, but he missed over a month with a knee injury and rallied late to get voted in as a starter.
Harper, making his 2nd All-Star Game appearance, will be the youngest player in National League history to start in the All-Star Game.
— Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) July 6, 2013
Harper, as the Nationals' press release on the outfielder becoming an All-Star for the second time notes, "... is slated to become the youngest player in history to start an All-Star Game for the National League." Harper made the National League's roster last summer as a reserve during his Rookie of the Year-worthy campaign.
#Nationals RHP Jordan Zimmermann will join Harper on the National League squad.
— Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) July 6, 2013
The Nats' outfielder will be joined in Citi Field by 27-year-old Nationals' right-hander Jordan Zimmermann, who will be making his first All-Star appearance. Zimmermann received no-decision this afternoon after throwing 5 1/3 innings in the win over the Padres in Nationals Park. On the year, the 2007 2nd Round pick is still (12-3) with a 2.57 ERA, 3.19 FIP, 18 walks (1.29 BB/9) and 89 Ks (6.36 K/9) in 18 games and 126.0 IP. Zimmermann, the Nats' press release notes, "... becomes the Nationals' sixth homegrown All-Star," along with Harper, Stephen Strasburg, Ian Desmond, Ryan Zimmerman and Chad Cordero.
Joining Harper and Zimmermann in Citi Field will be Nationals' manager Davey Johnson, who was named to the NL's coaching staff by National League manager Bruce Bochy.
With shortstops Troy Tulowitzki, Everth Cabrera and Jean Segura named to the NL's roster, Ian Desmond was left off the initial roster, but he was named as one of five finalists for the 2013 MLB All-Star Game's Final Vote.
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