Bryce Harper Injury: Updates on Nationals Star's Wrist and Return

Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper suffered a wrist injury on Sept. 25 against the Pittsburgh Pirates after an awkward slide into third base. However, he has been cleared to return to the lineup.

Continue for updates.

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Harper Active vs. Marlins

Friday, Sept. 30

Harper was in the lineup against the Miami Marlins on Friday, per MLB Lineups.

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Harper Continues to Battle Injuries in '16

This is not the first health concern for Harper in 2016. He already dealt with neck stiffness earlier in the season that forced him to miss time.

Harper isn't known for his durability and appeared in more than 139 contests in a season for the first time in his career when he played 153 last year. However, he is widely considered one of the best players in MLB and is the anchor in the middle of the Nationals lineup. Prior to the injury, he was hitting .244 with 24 home runs and 85 RBI in 2016.

Harper proved his overall dominance in 2015 with a National League MVP award behind video game-type numbers. The four-time All-Star and 2012 National League Rookie of the Year posted a .330 batting average, 42 home runs, 99 RBI, 38 doubles, 124 walks and a 1.109 OPS last year.

Washington is on the short list of teams with realistic World Series championship hopes this season, and Harper's presence is a major reason why. If it plans on competing against teams such as the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers for the NL pennant, it needs Harper back and healthy throughout the playoffs.