Bryce Harper says he will return in 2022; declines to offer timetable

Bryce Harper says he doesn’t know when he’ll be able to return from his fractured left thumb, but the reigning National League MVP is adamant that he’ll return before the conclusion of the 2022 regular season.

“I’ll be back,” Harper said when asked about whether he’s been told he’ll be back or is hopeful he can play again this year.

Does Harper know when that return will be?

“I don’t right now, but I’ll be back.”

What about an approximate target date for returning to the No. 3 spot in the Phillies’ lineup?

“I don’t wanna hope or think about anything, I just wanna go day by day and be back when I can, whenever I feel healthy. … If we’re in it, if we’re out of it, I’m going to come back and play no matter what, just so I know I can go out there and play the game. I don’t want that to be my last day playing this year, that game in San Diego. So no matter what the outcome is, I’m gonna come back and I’ll be playing.”

Harper had three pins inserted into his right thumb during surgery last Wednesday (June 29). The surgery was performed by Pedro Beredjiklian, the chief of hand surgery at Rothman Orthopedic Institute. Beredjiklian also performed the surgery on Jean Segura’s fractured index finger (more on that in a minute) on June 3.

The pins will be in Harper’s thumb for four weeks, and the 29-year-old won’t be able to do much of anything until they are removed. From there, it will just come down to how quickly the healing progresses.

As for the small tear in his right UCL, this will give Harper’s right elbow a couple more weeks of rest.

“Yeah, I won’t be able to work out or anything like that. It’s been killing me actually, just not being able to work out … not being physical or anything like that, it’s a really big thing for me. Of course, you guys know that I love to work out.

“But I will still continue my elbow and shoulder program, and when I can put a glove on my left hand and be able to catch a ball, then I’ll start throwing and things like that. We’ll see how that kind of goes and see where we are at. It gives me another two or three weeks of hanging out with my elbow and hopefully just letting it get to where it needs to be for me to feel healthy and throw a baseball.”

Harper received a PRP injection in his right elbow on May 15 in Los Angeles. The hope at that time was that Harper could avoid surgery on the elbow, be it Tommy John another procedure.

While the elbow has kept him from playing in right field for much of the 2022 season, it didn’t seem to affect him at the plate. Before suffering the broken thumb, Harper was slashing .318/.385/.599 with 15 home runs, 48 RBIs, 26 walks and a .985 OPS.

In Other Broken Finger News…

The pin is out of Jean Segura’s fractured right index finger. He’s taking some grounders at second, but not throwing with the right hand yet. There isn’t a timetable on when he could return. pic.twitter.com/QLzB7FbZeG

— Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) July 5, 2022

The Nuggets

• Southpaw Cristopher Sánchez was recalled from Triple- A Lehigh Valley Tuesday, and will start Tuesday in place of the injured Ranger Suárez. Sánchez has a 4.76 ERA across 28 1/3 career innings at the major league level for the Phillies. However, just two of his 15 career appearances for the Phillies have been starts. Interim manager Rob Thomson said he believes that Sánchez could throw 80-85 pitches Tuesday.
• The Phillies announced Tuesday that they’ve claimed reliever Sam Clay off of waivers from the Nationals. The 29-year-old lefty has been optioned to Triple-A.
• Nick Maton (right shoulder sprain) was diving and sliding Tuesday for the second day in a row at Clearwater. Thomson says that Maton “should be going out fairly soon” in regards to a potential rehab stint, assuming there aren’t any setbacks.

Nationals Lineup

1. Lane Thomas, Right Field
2. Josh Bell, First Base
3. Nelson Cruz, DH
4. Keibert Ruiz, Catcher
5. Maikel Franco, Third Base
6. César Hernández, Second Base
7. Luis García, Shortstop
8. Ehire Adrianza, Left Field
9. Victor Robles, Center Field

Starter: RHP Paolo Espino

Phillies Lineup

1. Kyle Schwarber, Left Field
2. Rhys Hoskins, First Base
3. Nick Castellanos, Right Field
4. Darick Hall, DH
5. J.T. Realmuto, Catcher
6. Alec Bohm, Third Base
7. Bryson Stott, Shortstop
8. Matt Vierling, Second Base
9. Mickey Moniak, Center Field

Starter: LHP Cristopher Sánchez

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