PHILADELPHIA — Bryce Harper met with hand specialists Monday to determine the severity of his broken left thumb.
No decision has been made, but sources said that surgery is most likely. But even if Harper has surgery, there is a chance he plays again this season. An update and possible decision about Harper’s next step is expected Tuesday. The Philadelphia Inquirer first reported Harper likely needs surgery.
Harper got hit by a 97 mph fastball in the fourth inning in Saturday night’s game against the Padres at Petco Park. He was having one of the best seasons of his career, despite playing since mid-April with a torn UCL in his right arm. He is batting .318 with 15 home runs, 48 RBIs and a .984 OPS.
“Things happen for a reason,” Harper said Saturday. “Everybody says that. This reason sucks right now, but at the same time, it is what it is. I’ve got to be positive. I’ve got to be positive for the guys in here. I know they’ll pick up the slack. I’m just really bummed for the organization, the guys, the city of Philadelphia, the fans. I love running out there and playing every day. Definitely bummed.”
If there were a best-case scenario for Harper, it would probably be a four to six week recovery. Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson fractured his right thumb earlier this month. Giants first baseman Brandon Belt fractured his thumb last September. J.T. Realmuto fractured his right thumb in February 2021. Each received an estimated recovery of four to six weeks.
Surgery will require a longer recovery period, of course. Jean Segura will miss 10-12 weeks following surgery on June 3 to repair his broken right index finger. Harper’s recovery could take less than that, however.
Harper’s torn UCL is not part of this discussion, which some fans have wondered. Harper was scheduled to have his elbow evaluated this week after receiving a PRP injection on May 15 in Los Angeles. If the UCL healed as hoped, Harper could have started a throwing program. But even if the elbow did not heal, Harper said a few weeks ago that he planned to DH the rest of the season.
“It’s like the Ohtani rule,” Harper said.
Shohei Ohtani had Tommy John surgery on Oct. 1, 2018. He returned to DH for the Angels on May 7, 2019.
“I’ll be ready for Opening Day if I do have surgery, hitting-wise,” Harper said. “Outfield-wise, I wouldn’t be ready until May or around there. That’s just a schedule, right? That has nothing to do with how I’m feeling. That’s like perfect scheduling. It really just depends on how your body responds to it. It’s exactly like my throwing program now. It could be anything from 12-16 weeks. Or it could be more than that. It just depends on how it really feels.”
Harper’s left thumb is the only issue on anybody’s mind this week. If he decides to have surgery with the idea that he could play again this season, the Phillies will need to play well without him until then. That includes the talent already on the current 26-man roster, and anybody Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski acquires externally in the meantime.