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Harper: I just don't care for the Home Run Derby

Dylan Buell / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Bryce Harper will start for the National League at the 2016 MLB All-Star Game, but don't expect to see the Washington Nationals outfielder partake in the weekend's second-biggest event.

When asked why he was declining to participate in this season's Home Run Derby in San Diego's Petco Park, Harper revealed a lack of interest in the slugging competition.

"It's a good park to swing it in," Harper said Tuesday after the Nationals' 5-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, according to ESPN's Eddie Matz. "You're gonna get a lot of homers to left and a lot of homers to right. It's a fun event, but I don't know, I just don't care for it."

Though the Home Run Derby was changed to a much-approved new format last season, it's the consistencies of the event that disinterest the reigning MVP.

"I don’t know about draining," Harper said. "Definitely it's a lot of swings and what not. Yeah, you could say draining - why not? But it's just, I don't know, I don't want to go out there and swing and swing and swing, I guess."

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