Phillies' Bryce Harper does not expect IL stint after hit-by-pitch

New York Times

2 days ago

Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider initially did not react after hitting Bryce Harper and his surgically repaired elbow with a 95 mph on Tuesday. The 26-year-old assumed Harper, like many other big leaguers, was wearing an elbow guard.
But Harper was not, and the lack of a guard sent him reeling to the ground and out of the game with a swollen, bruised elbow.
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'It's really hard to find braces that kind of feel good, that don't feel bulky or anything like that,' Harper said. 'I haven't really worn them my whole career. I have here and there just to feel it. I did during spring training this year because of this reason. I didn't like the way it felt.'
Harper expects to wear multiple braces upon his return: one from his Tommy John recovery process and another on top of it.
This is the errant Spencer Strider pitch that knocked Bryce Harper out of the game.
(Via @TalkinBaseball_)
pic.twitter.com/6kRKCYpf4x
— On Pattison (@OnPattison) May 27, 2025
When he returns remains to be seen. Tuesday's X-rays were negative. The swelling has gone down but he is still sore. He has not swung a bat since being hit, and he does not know when he'll swing one or when he'll play again, though he did take grounders at first on Friday.
To this point, Harper has missed two games, and will miss a third Friday night against the Brewers. Still, he does not expect an IL stint and neither does manager Rob Thomson.
In Harper's place, third baseman Alec Bohm moved to first this week. Designated hitter Kyle Schwarber also took grounders at first base on Friday — a position he played in the spring but has not played in the majors since Oct. 3, 2021.
Harper was was hit by three pitches in a few days' span against the A's and Braves, the last of which was the Strider fastball. It's a hazard of pitchers going in on Harper; 53% of pitches to the first baseman this season have been inside and 37% of those have not been in the zone.
It's a strategy Harper understands but feels can be tough with how hard the ball is being thrown.
'I'm all for it in baseball, getting guys off pitches away or anything else like that,' Harper said. 'But just control — guys throw a little too hard now to do that up-and-in thing.'
He's always been on top of the plate. That won't change. It is just scarier with harder pitching, he said. The brace should help.