The Philadelphia Phillies continued their spring training run with a massive 9-6 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday afternoon. Although the exhibition victory gave Phillies fans plenty to celebrate, the game wasn't without a scare to one of the club's top players.
Former NL MVP Bryce Harper exited during the sixth inning when a pitch from Blue Jays left-handed hurler Richard Lovelady struck him in the arm. The blow caused the Phillies star to drop his bat and even knocked his helmet off, leaving the fanbase concerned about the worst.
Here is the pitch #Phillies Bryce Harper got hit with. https://t.co/bDMWxDSTAq pic.twitter.com/We22EHK26F
— Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) February 26, 2025
Fortunately, it sounds like Harper and the Phillies dodged a major bullet.
Phillies Injury News: Bryce Harper Dealing With Bruised Triceps
Following the spring training win, Phillies manager Rob Thomson provided a much-needed injury update regarding Harper. The eight-time MLB All-Star is reportedly dealing with a bruised triceps and will not require X-rays, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.
"The trainer’s report — we’ll check him (Thursday) — but it’s a contusion in the triceps area," Thomson said. "We’re not overly concerned at all."
Bryce Harper should be OK after being hit by a pitch on his right arm yesterday.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) February 27, 2025
Bruised. No x-rays. https://t.co/gQPKaWY8cN
Thomson was also asked if he holds anything against Lovelady for the mishap. While some managers would be irate about their star player being hit by a pitch, the Phillies skipper admitted it was likely a mistake by the 29-year-old southpaw.
"I can’t speak for the kid, but maybe he was a little nervous," Thomson speculated. "It’s Bryce Harper."
Whether Lovelady intended to hit him or not, Phillies fans are just happy that Harper appears to have dodged the worst. The four-time silver slugger recently missed spring training time with an illness, so the fact that he's only dealing with a bruise is a huge relief.
The Phillies need a fully healthy Harper if they're going to compete for a World Series title this season. The 32-year-old veteran is coming off another All-Star campaign that saw him rack up 30 home runs, 87 RBIs, 76 walks, and a 4.8 WAR while slashing .285/.373/.525 in 145 appearances.
An injury-free 2025 campaign could mean big things for Philadelphia and its star player. After all, FanDuel Sportsbook has the Phillies owning the fourth-best World Series odds (+1000), while Harper holds the fifth-best NL MVP odds (+1500) as spring training continues.
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