Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper has a broken left thumb after being hit by a 97 mph fast ball from Blake Snell in the fourth inning Saturday night against the San Diego Padres.
The Phillies announced that the current National League MVP will be out indefinitely. It will be subject to additional evaluation in the coming days.
“I’ve never had a hand injury like this,” said Harper, who wore a splint on his injured thumb. “I’ve never broken anything in my life. This is new to me, so I’ll go day in and day out, see how we’re doing and see the specialist in Philadelphia. And if I need to see another specialist somewhere, then I will do”.
Harper checked his swing as Snell’s throw went up and high before hitting him from the outside of his left hand. Harper immediately fell to the ground and felt visible pain as he grabbed his hand while on his knees for a few minutes with Phillies head coach Paul Buchheit attending to him.
“I wish he’d hit me in the face. I don’t break bones in my face,” Harper said with a laugh. “I can grab 98 in the face, but I can’t grab 97 in the thumb. Yeah, I was a little in protection mode trying to raise my hand up there and not let myself be hit again.
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“It’s just a shame. I’m very discouraged.”
Harper only missed a few games last year when he was hit in the face by a fast ball from St. John’s Genesis Cabrera. Louis.
Phillies general manager Dave Dombrowski, who traveled with the team during the trip, said it was too early to determine if surgery would be needed. He added that he was not sure what type of fracture Harper had or where the left thumb injury occurred.
“We will put him on the injured list [Sunday]Dombrowski said. “At first I was worried about being hit in the face. I was immediately worried because he is a tough guy and he left the field immediately. “
When Harper was halfway to the Philadelphia dugout, he angrily shouted at Snell and waved his hand at the Padres’ starting pitcher. Snell finally called out to Harper. Many Petco Park fans started booing after several seconds of Harper calling out to Snell.
Then Harper seemed to calm down and say, “I know, I know,” to Snell, acknowledging that the pitcher didn’t want to hit him with the field of play.
“It didn’t heat up at all,” Harper said. “It was just the right time and a shitty situation. I’ve been playing against Blake since I was 10, 11, so I know there was no ill will behind that. The inside field is part of the game. It’s a great player and also a great human being. I wish him all the best and I told him to keep throwing him inside the fast ball because he puts this slider very well. “
Snell texted Harper and said the two are on good terms.
“Obviously, I felt terrible hitting him,” Snell said. “I don’t do that, and he knows it. 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 as upset as he is … I just hope he recovers quickly and comes back and continues competing “.
Snell added that he and Harper would see each other after the game on Saturday or Sunday.
Harper, as the Phillies’ designated hitter, was replaced by Johan Camargo in Philadelphia’s 4-2 victory.
“He’s a guy who really isn’t replaceable individually, but we’re going to have to be in a position where other people are going to have to step up,” Dombrowski said. “We will make a move to try to get someone here [Sunday]. “
Harper is hitting .318 with 15 homers, 48 RBIs and a .985 OPS this season in 64 games despite a small tear in his right elbow UCL that has prevented him from playing on the field since April 16th. He has tried to avoid it. Tommy John surgery ending the season with a platelet-rich plasma injection and rest.
“I don’t know how long he’ll be out right now,” Dombrowski said. “I hope he comes back at some point. We still have a lot of good hitters in the lineup … The Braves won the World Series last year without [Ronald] Coin. “
The Associated Press contributed to this report.