Phillies Move Hints at New Bryce Harper Replacement After Injury Setback

Newsweek

2 days ago

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The Philadelphia Phillies earned a much-needed win in extra innings on Monday night.
The team entered the game on a five-game losing streak. But with franchise ace Zack Wheeler on the mound, the Phillies turned things around to open their series against the Chicago Cubs.
Unfortunately, it won't be easy for the Phillies to keep it up after first baseman Bryce Harper suffered a significant setback on his persistent wrist injury.
"Bryce Harper played through lingering pain in his right wrist from May through the end of the season last year," Paul Casella wrote for MLB.com. "With the same issue having popped up once again, Harper and the Phillies are taking a different approach in 2015. The club placed Harper on the 10-day injured list."
TORONTO, ON - JUNE 4: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on June 4, 2025...
TORONTO, ON - JUNE 4: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on June 4, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by) More
Blinch/Getty
After Harper missed five games with an elbow injury, the Phillies will be without his bat until at least Monday. Initially, the team called up prospect Otto Kemp to play third base while moving Alec Bohm to fill in for Harper's position at first.
But Destiny Lugardo of Phillies Nation observed that Kemp was taking reps at first base with infield coach Bobby Dickerson ahead of the team's Tuesday game with the Cubs. Those reps could hint at plans the team has to move Kemp to first in Harper's absence, a position he's played in a dozen Triple-A games this season.
It could also merely be a way of keeping Kemp ready to replace Bohm in case he's injured. But if the team feels Kemp can handle the role, it would give the team a chance to move Bohm back to third base or to give Edmundo Sosa a start in the hot corner.
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