Harper, Scherzer, Zimmerman named 2018 All-Star ambassadors

Major League Baseball has named three current Washington Nationals players as MLB All-Star Ambassadors - outfielder Bryce Harper, starting pitcher Max Scherzer, and infielder Ryan Zimmerman. Participating in the return of the MLB All-Star Game to the nation's capital, all three players will serve as Ambassadors, participate in events and help promote All-Star Week.

Scherzer and Zimmerman will represent the hometown team at GEICO All-Star FanFest, the world's largest baseball interactive fan event. In addition, Harper will help MLB and the Nationals unveil a new youth baseball complex at Fred Crabtree Park in Fairfax County, VA on Monday, July 16.

The three players also will be featured in All-Star ads, event displays, traditional and social media and promotional materials. The first 3,000 fans to arrive at FanFest each weekday of All-Star Week will receive a bobblehead of one of the All-Star Ambassadors - Ryan Zimmerman (July 13), Bryce Harper (July 16), and Max Scherzer (July 17).

Harper, Scherzer and Zimmerman join a distinguished list of MLB stars who served as All-Star Ambassadors while playing for the host club including Giancarlo Stanton, Torii Hunter, Derek Jeter, Albert Pujols, Justin Upton and David Wright.

Specially priced tickets for families, military members, first responders and other various groups to GEICO All-Star FanFest are available now and can be purchased at AllStarGame.com while tickets to All-Star Sunday can also be purchased at the official website of the All-Star Game (www.allstargame.com), as well as the Nationals official website (www.nationals.com), the Nationals Ticket Windows at Nationals Park, and by calling 833-4ASGFUN. Mastercard, preferred by Major League Baseball, is an accepted form of payment.

During his appearance on the morning of the All-Star Game, Ryan Zimmerman will conduct an autograph signing session for fans. Fans interested in getting an autograph from Zimmerman or attending the signing sessions of MLB legends throughout the five days, can sign up for the GEICO All-Star FanFest Experience Pass at AllStarGame.com. The GEICO All-Star FanFest Experience Pass significantly reduces the amount of time fans will need to wait in line for autographs and is a one-stop-shop for getting access to the top attractions and prizes at the event. In addition, fans with the Experience Pass have the chance to win instant prizes and receive automatic entry to ticket sweepstakes for All-Star Sunday, the T-Mobile Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game presented by Mastercard.

Harper, a five-time National League All-Star and 2015 NL Most Valuable Player, was the Nationals first selection in the 2010 draft and first overall. He played in the All-Star Futures Game in 2011 and went on to make his Major League debut on April 28, 2012 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and since then has amassed 847 hits, including 171 home runs and 471 RBI.

Scherzer, who signed with the Nationals as a free agent prior to the 2015 season, has become one of the best pitchers in the game, winning the last two National League Cy Young Awards and being named an All-Star in each of the last five seasons. Scherzer also captured the 2013 American League Cy Young as a member of the Detroit Tigers, his first season as an All-Star. Scherzer has started 18 games thus far this season, going 10-5 with a 2.16 ERA, third-best in the NL.

Zimmerman, a two-time National League All-Star, was the Nationals first selection in the 2005 draft and fourth overall. He is the longest tenured member of the Nationals, after making his debut September 1, 2005. Zimmerman, 33, is a two-time Silver Slugger winner, the first of which he won in 2009 - the same year he was first named an All-Star and won a Gold Glove as well.

MLB All-Star Week includes the MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Nationals Park (July 17th), Gatorade All-Star Workout Day featuring the T-Mobile Home Run Derby (July 16th), All-Star Sunday featuring the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game and All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game (July 15th), GEICO All-Star FanFest at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center (July 13th-17th) and PLAY BALL Park in The Yards at Parcel A (July 13th-17th), plus a lineup of additional events taking place around the city. The 89th Midsummer Classic will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 180 countries. FOX Deportes will provide Spanish language coverage in the United States, while ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network, MLB.com and Sirius XM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, please visit AllStarGame.com and follow @AllStarGame on social media.