Bryce Harper is being activated from the injured list by the Philadelphia Phillies for Monday’s matchup with the San Diego Padres.
Harper, 32, has been on the IL since June 6 due to right wrist inflammation. In 57 games this season. he’s batting .258/.368/.446 with nine home runs, 13 doubles, 34 RBI and 8 stolen bases. In addition to the wrist injury, Harper missed five games earlier this season after taking a fastball to his right elbow.
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The Phillies decided to activate him after he had no setbacks following batting practice on Friday and facing pitches from two minor leaguers on Saturday. Harper rested and received treatment Sunday and appeared ready to go for Monday.
Harper acknowledged that his timing felt off during the Friday batting practice session, but Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that was corrected against Double-A Reading pitcher Jack Dallas and Joel Kuhnel from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
The wrist isn’t completely pain-free, according to Harper. But he isn’t feeling significant pain, nor is there swelling in the area that was causing the most discomfort when he went on the IL and was shut down.
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“Definitely way healthier than I was a couple weeks ago,” Harper told MLB.com’s Paul Casella.
There is some concern about a recurring injury given that Harper had issues with his wrist last season. Still, the hope is that various treatments from the Phillies’ medical staff, in addition to changes in his pregame routine, will prevent the wrist from being aggravated again.
Otto Kemp was called up from Triple-A when Harper went on the IL and has filled in at first base, third base and left field while batting .246/.325/.348 with one homer and 10 RBI in 77 plate appearances. When he was called up, Kemp was hitting 313/.416/.594 with 14 home runs and 55 RBI for Lehigh Valley.
The Phillies went 13-14 in Harper’s absence and took over first place in the National League East at 49-35, thanks in part to the New York Mets (48-37) having lost 13 of their past 16 games. Philadelphia has a 1.5-game lead going into Monday’s slate of MLB games.
