Phillies fans had a real scare there for a minute when Bryce Harper took a 92 mph fastball to the right arm during the Phillies’ spring training matchup against the Blue Jays. That is a terrifying moment when Philly is supposed to have one of the best lineups in the MLB.
When one of the biggest stars in the game gets plunked—especially a guy who’s had his fair share of injury scares from errant pitches—you brace for the worst.
A Close Call but No Major Damage
Fortunately for Philadelphia, this one didn’t turn into a disaster. After some medical evaluation, the verdict was just a bruised bicep.
No fractures, no X-rays needed, and most importantly, no extended absence looming on the horizon. That’s about as good of a result as anyone could hope for in this situation.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson wasn’t sweating it after the game, which is always reassuring. If he’s not panicking, chances are, the team isn’t either.
Harper’s Reaction: Understandable Frustration
Harper himself didn’t exactly brush it off in the moment. The fastball knocked his helmet clean off and left him visibly rattled. Getting drilled by a pitch is never fun, let alone one coming in at 92 mph.
For a guy who’s already been on the injured list twice because of pitches to the arm or hand, you can bet some unpleasant flashbacks were racing through his mind.
Lovelady’s Regret and Thomson’s Take
On the other hand, Blue Jays pitcher Richard Lovelady was clearly not thrilled about what happened either. The look on his face said it all—pure frustration.
No pitcher wants to be the guy who nails a superstar, especially in a spring training game where the goal is more about preparation than unnecessary drama.
In his post-game comments, Thomson, ever the level-headed skipper, gave Lovelady the benefit of the doubt. “I can’t speak for the kid, but maybe he was a little nervous,” he said. “It’s Bryce Harper.”
And that pretty much sums it up. When you’re on the mound facing a two-time MVP, sometimes the adrenaline kicks in a little too hard, and the ball doesn’t go exactly where you want it to.
Bryce Harper and the Phillies Avoid a Disaster
It looks like a crisis has been averted for Bryce Harper and the Phillies. A bruise? Sure, that’ll sting for a few days. But compared to what could have been? This is a bullet dodged.
The real focus shifts back to what matters—getting ready for Opening Day and keeping those championship aspirations on track.
