Philadelphia Phillies Bryce Harper broke his left thumb batting on Saturday after it got hit by a 97-mph fastball by Blake Snell from San Diego Padres. The injury might keep him away from baseball for a longer time than the Phillies can afford. The Phillies temporary manager, Rob Thompsons informed that he would have surgery on Wednesday. When he will be back is unknown.
Harper was hurt in the 4th inning (or part) of the team’s 4-2 score at Petco Park when swung while the pitcher rose, and the ball hit his hand as he leaned away.
“I’ve never had a hand injury like this,” While standing by his locker with a medical cast in his thumb, he had said to reporters: “Never broken anything in my life. This is new to me, so I’m just going to go day by day, see kind of where we’re at and see the specialist in Philly. And if I do need to see another specialist somewhere, then I will.”
Last season, Harper avoided only a few games after being hit in the face by a 98-mph fastball pitched by St. Louis Cardinals Génesis Cabrera, but this is a totally different type of injury.
“I kind of wish it would’ve hit me in the face. I don’t break bones in my face,” Harper said chuckling, “I can take a pitch to the face, but I can’t take 97 to the thumb. Yeah, I was kind of in protection mode a little bit trying to get my hand up there and not let it hit me again. It’s just a bummer. I am really bummed out.”
Snell informed reporters that he had communicated to Harper on the phone, “Obviously, I felt terrible hitting him,” said Snell. “I don’t do that, and he knows that. We’ve talked. We’ve handled it. He plays with a lot of passion, and I can understand why he’d be upset. I’m just as upset as he is. … I just hope he recovers quickly and gets back out there and continues to compete.”
Last year, Cincinnati Reds’ first baseman Joey Votto also broke his left thumb after getting hit with a pitch and was not able to play for about a month. His injury did not require an operation.
In 2017, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout was out for six weeks after undergoing surgery on his thumb.
Harper should be out around this much time too. The thing is, he was enjoying one of his best seasons before his thumb got hurt.
Harper was hurt in the 4th inning (or part) of the team’s 4-2 score at Petco Park when swung while the pitcher rose, and the ball hit his hand as he leaned away.
“I’ve never had a hand injury like this,” While standing by his locker with a medical cast in his thumb, he had said to reporters: “Never broken anything in my life. This is new to me, so I’m just going to go day by day, see kind of where we’re at and see the specialist in Philly. And if I do need to see another specialist somewhere, then I will.”
Last season, Harper avoided only a few games after being hit in the face by a 98-mph fastball pitched by St. Louis Cardinals Génesis Cabrera, but this is a totally different type of injury.
“I kind of wish it would’ve hit me in the face. I don’t break bones in my face,” Harper said chuckling, “I can take a pitch to the face, but I can’t take 97 to the thumb. Yeah, I was kind of in protection mode a little bit trying to get my hand up there and not let it hit me again. It’s just a bummer. I am really bummed out.”
Snell informed reporters that he had communicated to Harper on the phone, “Obviously, I felt terrible hitting him,” said Snell. “I don’t do that, and he knows that. We’ve talked. We’ve handled it. He plays with a lot of passion, and I can understand why he’d be upset. I’m just as upset as he is. … I just hope he recovers quickly and gets back out there and continues to compete.”
Last year, Cincinnati Reds’ first baseman Joey Votto also broke his left thumb after getting hit with a pitch and was not able to play for about a month. His injury did not require an operation.
In 2017, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout was out for six weeks after undergoing surgery on his thumb.
Harper should be out around this much time too. The thing is, he was enjoying one of his best seasons before his thumb got hurt.
