Bryce Harper hit by pitch, exits Philadelphia Phillies-Atlanta Braves game
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper was hit by a pitch and exited Tuesday night's game against the Atlanta Braves.
The Phillies said Harper suffered a right elbow contusion and that his X-rays were negative.
Harper winced in pain after the 95.6 mph four-seam fastball by Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider hit him in the bottom of the first inning. Edmundo Sosa replaced Harper after he left the game.
The Phillies won't be losing Harper for long, but the hit to the elbow could have been significantly worse.
"When your best hitter gets hit like that, there's always a concern," Phillies manager Rob Thomson said after the 2-0 win. "You're always concerned, but we'll just have to see tomorrow."
Harper and the Phillies entered the highly anticipated series against Atlanta Tuesday night on a roll by winning nine of their last 10 games. After the win over the Braves, they have the best record in baseball at 35-19.
With Harper essentially having a bruise on his elbow, the Phillies will have to monitor the extent of the injury and how many games Harper will need to recover. Before the hit from Strider, Harper was hitting .383 with a .998 OPS over the last 14 days, driving in 11 runs during that stretch.
Thomson didn't believe Strider's pitch to Harper was intentional, nor could the Phillies seek retaliation anyway in such a close game. The Phillies didn't score their second run until J.T. Realmuto worked a bases loaded walk off Daysbel Hernández in the bottom of the eighth inning, so getting vengeance on any Braves hitters wasn't an option.
Harper had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament after the 2022 World Series. Harper returned in the 2023 season following the surgery as the Phillies made a run to the National League Championship Series, where they were eliminated by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Last season, Harper played through nagging wrist and elbow injuries, but he said it wasn't related to the Tommy John surgery he had following the 2022 season.
Harper, 32, has been no stranger to injuries throughout his career with the Phillies.
Getting the victory was important, especially when Ranger Suárez, Orion Kerkering, Matt Strahm and Jordan Romano combined on a five-hit shutout against one of baseball's most talented offenses. The concern that lingered was Harper, who the Phillies need healthy in a make-or-break season to win the World Series with this core.
"It's very relieving to know that it's nothing major," Phillies outfielder Max Kepler said. "I was holding my breath and hoping for the best. Was hoping that it was nothing serious."
The Phillies avoided major damage in regards to Harper. All that's left to be seen is how significant the damage is in terms of games missed.
