In a season where multiple All-Star level players have been sidelined by injuries, it is not easy to see another player of that caliber continuing to sit on the sidelines. Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper continues to be out – and the star is vowing to return this season.
The reigning AL-MVP was sidelined in June after he was struck by a pitch thrown by San Diego Padres pitcher Blake Snell. Harper was sent to the IL after being diagnosed with a broken left thumb and had to have three pins inserted into his thumb.
Harper spoke to the media earlier this week saying that he would be back but was reluctant to give a timetable on his return. “I don’t want to give anybody a timetable because I don’t know. If I knew a specific date that I’d be back, I’d tell you. I just don’t think it’s fair to anybody. I’ll be back when I’m ready to go,” he said. “I don’t want to hope or think about anything. I just want to go day by day and be back when I can, whenever I feel healthy, whenever that is to help this team win. Granted, if we’re out of it, I’m going to come back and play no matter what, just so I know that I can go out there and play the game. I don’t want that to be my last day playing this year. No matter what the outcome, I’m going to come back, and I’ll be playing.”
Harper will not be able to attend the Phillies’ upcoming road trip against the St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays and Miami Marlins due to conflicts with his medical appointments. “I don’t really feel the need for me to go anywhere, especially with appointments for the next two weeks with the doctors,” he said. “If I didn’t have those appointments, I’d be going on this road. After the break, I’ll be kind of a little more open to going on the road and travel and get the things done I need to.”
Prior to his injury Harper was getting back to MVP form. He had been batting .318 with a .985 OPS and 15 home runs. In his absence, however, the Phillies have not wavered in their hunt for a postseason berth. The Phillies are 5-3 in his absence and the offense has still been producing, scoring five or more runs in six of the last eight contests including an 11-0 dismantling of the Washington Nationals.
The Phillies now sit in third place in the NL East with a 43-38 record. They have a 71.3% chance to make the postseason.
