career Harper played for the United States U-18 baseball team in 2008 and 2009, before he was drafted by the Nationals. On August 12, 2022, Harper announced that he would join the United States national baseball team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, joining fellow Phillie J. T. Realmuto. Career accomplishments 2× NL Most Valuable Player (2015, 2021) 7× MLB All-Star selection (2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022) National League Rookie of the Year (2012) 2× NL Hank Aaron Award (2015, 2021) Silver Slugger Award (2015, 2021) NLCS MVP (2022) ESPN MLB Person of the Year (2015) All-Star Futures Game selection (2011) Golden Spikes Award (2010) SWAC Player of the Year (2010) Baseball America High School Player of the Year (2009) Personal life Harper resides in Henderson, Nevada, during the off-season. His father, Ron, is an ironworker in Las Vegas and his mother is Sherilyn Harper. Harper attributes his work ethic to the lessons he learned from watching his father: "I wanted to come out and I wanted to work hard because he worked hard. He did it for over 25 years." Harper's older brother, Bryan, also played in the Washington Nationals organization. While playing on different teams within the Nationals organization, the Harper brothers spoke by phone "almost every day" during the baseball season, according to Bryce. When he was a youth in Las Vegas, he also played alongside Joey Gallo and Kris Bryant. Harper is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has spoken publicly about his decision to abstain from alcohol. In 2014, he said that he sometimes drinks coffee during the baseball season. Though serving a mission is strongly encouraged for male members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are between the ages of 18 and 26, it is not required. Harper decided his mission rested on the diamond. In a 2016 interview, he said, "Coming up to the draft and trying to make that decision, I always thought that my Heavenly Father upstairs always just wanted me to be a walking Book of Mormon, you could say," [...] "I knew that I could touch a lot of people's lives playing and trying to be the best Mormon that I can be on and off the field." Harper and his girlfriend Kayla Varner were engaged in 2014, but their wedding that was set for January 2015