PITTSBURGH — The Philadelphia Phillies faced a setback on Saturday when they announced the placement of their first baseman Bryce Harper on the 10-day injured list due to inflammation in his right wrist. This was a prelude to their 2-1 loss against the Pirates. Harper had already missed Friday’s game, a 5-4 defeat to Pittsburgh, and the injured list move is dated back to that day.
The standout player, a two-time National League MVP and eight-time All-Star, is currently sporting a .258 batting average, having hit nine home runs, amassed 34 RBIs, and claimed eight stolen bases over 57 games. Harper had previously been sidelined between May 26 and June 2 with a bruised right elbow following a pitch by Atlanta’s Spencer Strider.
Regarding his wrist issues, Harper mentioned, “It’s been long enough. It’s reached a point where functioning on the baseball field is a challenge, so it seems a fitting time to deal with it correctly.”
Harper noted that this isn’t a new problem, as discomfort in his wrist persisted for much of last season, contributing to his impressive 30 home runs and driving the Phillies to win the NL East. “This season, it’s become progressively worse,” he explained. “I noticed the issue early on and have played through it as much as possible.”
As of now, the Phillies have yet to define a clear timeline for Harper’s recovery. Phillies manager Rob Thomson remarked, “My hope is it’s around 10 days, but the exact time is uncertain.”
With Harper out, Alec Bohm is anticipated to cover first base duties while Edmundo Sosa steps into the third base role.
Recently, the Phillies dropped eight out of their last nine games, shifting their position from a two-game lead in the NL East to trailing the New York Mets by three games. This downturn follows a previously strong period where they won 11 out of 12 games.
Meanwhile, the Phillies have brought up Otto Kemp from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Kemp, an infielder/outfielder who was performing excellently with a .317 average, 14 home runs, 55 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases over 57 games in Triple-A, was named the International Player of the Month for April. In his big league debut, Kemp, a right-handed batter, played at third base but went 0 for 3.
The team also recalled right-handed pitcher Daniel Robert from Lehigh Valley, while optioning pitcher Alan Rangel. Rangel, 27, debuted in the major league on Friday night, conceding two runs over three innings in relief. For Robert, this marks his third major league stint this season, where he has allowed one run in two-thirds of an inning across two games.