WASHINGTON - Nationals manager Davey Johnson was talking to general manager Mike Rizzo on Saturday when he called for Bryce Harper to come over.
Harper thought it was one of two things: ''I was thinking I was going down because Rizzo and everybody was over there or theAll-Star game,'' he said.
Forget about that minor league return, Bryce. Next stop, baseball's showcase game in Kansas City.
The 19-year-old Harper became the youngest position player to make the Midsummer Classic and third youngest All-Star ever when NL manager Tony La Russa selected the precocious outfielder to replace injured Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton.
Atlanta Braves speedster Michael Bourn also made the NL team Saturday, replacing Washington Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond.
''Words can't explain it right now,'' Harper said following Washington's 4-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies. ''I think it's exciting to go and I'm excited to get there and be around all the top guys in the country, of course, top guys in baseball. So I'm just going to take it all in, try to enjoy it with the family and try to just be as mellow and calm as I can.''
Stanton left in the third inning of Miami's 3-2 loss at St. Louis and the Marlins said their lone All-Star representative would have arthroscopic right knee surgery on Sunday, shelving one of baseball's best young sluggers for next week's festivities.
''He might be out for a month or six weeks, that's what I think,'' manager Ozzie Guillen said. ''Hopefully less. We're better off that way because that kid couldn't do anything.''
Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen will take Stanton's spot for Monday night's home run derby.
