Phillies' Bryce Harper Diagnosed with Torn UCL Injury; Won't Throw for 4 Weeks

Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper has been diagnosed with a "small tear" in his UCL, manager Joe Girardi revealed Thursday.

Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer shared Girardi's explanation:

Harper was a bright spot for the Phillies last season, though he did deal with a minor injury early in the year. He missed two weeks from May 23 to June 4 because of a bruised wrist that required a stint on the injured list. He also was hit in the face with a pitch during an April 28 game against the St. Louis Cardinals, which kept him out for three days. 

Despite those speed bumps, the 2021 campaign was one of Harper's best. He hit .309/.429/.615 with 35 homers and 84 RBI in 141 games to be named NL MVP for the second time. 

He's continued to produce this season (.269/.326/.521, 6 HR, 19 RBI, 6 SB), but Philadelphia is off to a disappointing 14-17 start and sits third in the NL East.

Should the injury affect Harper at the plate at all, other Philadelphia players may be asked to carry the load. J.T. Realmuto is arguably the best all-around catcher in MLB. Rhys Hoskins slugged .530 in 107 games last season. 

The Phillies also signed Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos as free agents to provide more depth in the lineup. 

With Harper limited to DH duties, Castellanos will continue to get the bulk of the starts in right field.