Phillies' Bryce Harper's X-Rays on Elbow Injury Negative After HBP vs. Braves' Strider

Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper had to exit Tuesday's game against the Atlanta Braves but avoided a major injury after a scary play.

In the bottom of the first inning, Harper took a 95 mph fastball from Spencer Strider off the elbow. Harper was in clear pain after the hit by pitch, keeling over and holding his elbow.

Per Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Harper's X-rays came back negative and he has a bruised right elbow.

The elbow that Harper took the pitch to on Tuesday is the same one he had surgically repaired in 2022. After the 2022 season, Harper underwent UCL surgery on his right elbow, forcing him to miss part of the 2023 season.

In the years since the surgery, Harper has taken a few blows to his elbow. He was hit by a pitch in July of 2023 and had to exit that game, but he was back on the field less than a week later.

In the National League Division Series in October of 2023, Braves' Matt Olson ran into Harper's elbow while running through first base, but Harper said he was "good" and that Olson "just hit my funny bone." He went to the clubhouse briefly but was able to return to the field on defense.

Harper has been able to avoid seriously re-injuring his elbow since his surgery, and it seems the latest hit to the elbow won't leave him sidelined for too long.

Harper, 32, has eight home runs, 33 RBI and a .267 batting average through 53 games. The two-time MVP will look to bounce back quickly from Tuesday's injury as the Phillies try to continue their hot start to the season.

Philadelphia came into the series against the Braves sitting atop the NL East at 34-19.