The Philadelphia Phillies experienced a brief scare Wednesday when Bryce Harper appeared to favor his knee during the team’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals. The veteran star has been dealing with knee discomfort since returning to the outfield following the MLB trade deadline, but interim manager Don Mattingly does not appear overly worried about the situation at this point.
Mattingly explained that the Phillies are monitoring Harper closely and will make decisions based on how he feels each day.
“If he’s hurt or hurting, we probably just sit him and let him get healthy,” Mattingly said. “He’s saying he’s not hurt, it’s no different than before. We just go to the medical every day, he tells us he’s available, and we make a decision.”
Harper first began experiencing problems with his knee last month, and the discomfort has become somewhat more noticeable since he moved back to right field. Despite the soreness, the Phillies star has indicated that he is not particularly concerned about the issue.
Harper acknowledged that the increased workload has contributed to some soreness as he adjusts to playing the outfield again.
“The more I’ve ramped it up, I’ve gotten sore. I think the more I play, I think it’ll help me — just getting in condition more,” Harper said. “I feel like I’m in spring training again, trying to get through everything.”
The concern increased during Harper’s final at-bat Wednesday. He appeared to have some trouble with his knee during the plate appearance, causing fans and the Phillies organization to briefly hold their breath.
However, Harper later clarified that there was no new injury. According to Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Lochlahn March, the slugger said he was simply trying to regain his composure during the at-bat rather than dealing with a fresh knee problem.
For now, Philadelphia appears prepared to continue monitoring Harper rather than immediately shutting him down. With the Phillies fighting for a playoff spot, keeping their star healthy will be one of the team’s biggest priorities down the stretch.
Philadelphia is scheduled to open a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night, making Harper’s status something to watch closely as the Phillies continue their postseason push.
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