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

Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper was dealing with a stiff neck that kept him out of the lineup for multiple games amid reports he was also dealing with a shoulder injury. However, he is ready to return.

Continue for updates.

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Harper Returns vs. Braves

Sunday, Aug. 14

Mark Zuckerman of MASN reported Harper will play against the Atlanta Braves and is batting third.

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Harper Also Reportedly Playing Through Injured Shoulder

Friday, Aug. 12

Tom Verducci of SI.com reported that Harper has been playing through a right shoulder injury for the past two months, treating it with cupping therapy and Active Release Technique.

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Harper Comments on Injury

Sunday, Aug. 7

“It just didn’t feel very good. It got a little tense in there. I needed a break real quick,” Harper said on Saturday, per the Washington Post's Chelsea Janes. Harper continued:

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"Our trainer got out there and gave me a second. Just definitely didn’t feel right." ...

"I think it’s an all-around thing,” said Harper, asked when he feels the trouble most.” Just coming in here today, I tried to free it up a little bit more. It didn’t happen very much, but I felt good enough to go. Unfortunately, I want to be in that lineup every night. It was just tough right there.”

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Baker Comments on Harper's Injury

Sunday, Aug. 7

“Anybody who has ever had a stiff neck, I mean, you know you’re not yourself,” Nationals manager Dusty Baker said on Saturday, per Janes.

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Nationals Need Harper Healthy for World Series Push

Losing Harper for a significant amount of time would have been a devastating blow for the Nationals’ playoff hopes, as he is the anchor in the middle of the lineup who is expected to carry the offense on a nightly basis. Thankfully, it appears this is a minor injury.

Thus far, Harper is hitting .233 with 20 home runs and 57 RBI in 2016.

The right fielder was the 2015 National League MVP behind a .330 batting average, a 1.109 OPS, 42 home runs, 99 RBI, 38 doubles and 124 walks. He appeared in 153 games, which was the first time he had played in more than 139 contests in a season in his career.

Harper was also the 2012 National League Rookie of the Year and is a three-time All-Star.