Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper will sit out the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves due to a right elbow injury.
The injury occurred when Harper was hit by a 95 mph fastball from Braves pitcher Spencer Strider in the first inning of Tuesday night’s game. While X-rays came back negative and ruled out a fracture, lingering swelling and pain have kept the 32-year-old out of action for now.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson offered a hopeful update, saying Harper “was a lot better than we expected” following treatment on Wednesday. Still, Harper is considered day-to-day, and his status for the second game remains uncertain.
“I’m not sure (if he’ll be available), but he’s doing better,” Thomson said. “He came in yesterday for treatment. He’s in there now. I believe he still had swelling and was still in pain, but it’s a lot better than we expected, so it’s making progress.
“He hasn’t swung the bat yet. … I wouldn’t put him in a game until he’s comfortable swinging a bat.”
Thomson added that Harper had no additional testing on the elbow aside from the original X-rays. He also said he hopes Harper will wear an elbow guard once he does return to action.
“I think it’s a little uncomfortable for him. I think he feels like it restricts him a little bit,” Thomson said. “But, I hope he wears it.”
Bryce Harper, a two-time MVP, has been a driving force behind the Phillies’ impressive start this season, posting a .267 batting average with eight home runs, 33 RBIs, and an .825 OPS over 54 games.
Earlier in May, Harper achieved a significant career milestone by notching his 1,000th RBI, joining an elite group as only the 14th player in MLB history to record 1,000 RBIs, 1,000 runs, and 1,000 walks before the age of 33.
In Harper’s absence, Alec Bohm has moved over to first base, while Edmundo Sosa has taken over at third. The Phillies, who currently sit atop the NL East, continue their series against the Braves looking to maintain their strong form despite being without one of their key offensive leaders.
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