The Philadelphia Phillies are activating Bryce Harper off the injured list after recovering from a wrist injury. Harper last played on June 5, and this has been an issue that has been bothering him since last year.
The wrist soreness has given Harper difficulty swinging the bat, thus opting to take time off. He’s back, will bat third and play first base on Monday against the Padres. To make room for the two-time MVP, the Phillies designated Buddy Kennedy for assignment.
It should be positive news for the Phillies and baseball fans everywhere that Harper is returning. But his status will continue to be one to monitor when he makes his way back to the field.
Across the 57 games that Harper has played, he is slashing .258/.368/.446 with nine home runs and 34 RBI. While these outputs are below the sky-high standard Harper has set for himself, plenty of MLB players would be thrilled to have this type of production.
The Phillies will be excited to get their franchise centerpiece back, with the entire lineup fitting together much more seamlessly when Harper is in it. Philadelphia has not produced at its desired level of power for most of the season, but Harper’s return should help improve this.
Despite some ups and downs already, the Phillies hold a 49-35 record and have a 1.5-game lead in the NL East by 1.5 games. They rank fourth in World Series odds at +800 on DraftKings Sportsbook. They also hold +450 odds of winning the National League and -900 odds of qualifying for the playoffs.
