Phillies fans can finally exhale just a little bit. Bryce Harper, the heart and hustle of this Philadelphia lineup, might finally be on his way back after what feels like an eternity on the shelf. And yeah, it’s only been a little over three weeks, but when you’re in the thick of a division race, every game without your star slugger feels like a month.
Harper hasn’t taken the field since June 5 after right wrist inflammation put him on the 10-day injured list, but spoiler alert: that 10-day stay turned into something much longer, and fans have been holding their breath ever since.
Silence from Bryce Harper Had Fans Guessing
For weeks, there was radio silence from Harper. Phillies supporters were glued to Twitter, watching every press conference, every dugout shot, hoping for a signal that their guy was inching closer to a return. But instead, there was nothing concrete, no promises, just the slow drip of vague updates. The longer it went, the more it felt like this wrist injury might be more serious than initially let on.
Live Pitches Set for Saturday
According to MLB’s Paul Casella, Harper is set to take live batting practice on Saturday. That’s the first real, tangible step toward getting back in the lineup. If things go well—and that’s a big if when it comes to wrists— Bryce Harper could be suiting up as soon as Monday when the Phillies take on the Padres. He didn’t specify a return date, but all signs indicate it will be next week. And for a team hanging just 0.5 games behind the Mets in the NL East, that’s a boost that could swing momentum in a heartbeat.
Elbow Bruise Didn’t Help the Wrist
Let’s not forget that Harper missed a few games in late May, too, thanks to a pitch that smacked him right on the elbow. Not ideal. And while that wasn’t directly related to the wrist inflammation, he admitted the elbow trauma didn’t exactly make things better. That’s the life of a power hitter: constant contact, bruises piling up, and still trying to deliver when your team needs you. Harper made the call to rest this time, and if it pays off, Phillies fans could be looking at a rejuvenated two-time MVP just in time for a second-half surge.
So get ready, Phillies. The MVP might be coming back, the bats might be waking up, and the race for the NL East just got a lot more exciting.
