Phillies star Bryce Harper will undergo elbow surgery to repair his damaged ulnar collateral ligament next Wednesday, president of baseball operation Dave Dombrowski announced today (Twitter link via Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer). Imaging hasn’t conclusively determined whether Harper will require a full Tommy John surgery (i.e. ligament replacement) or whether an internal brace procedure could suffice, so the team won’t have a timeline until the surgery is performed.
Harper was diagnosed with a UCL tear back in May but was able to continue his 2022 season as the Phillies’ primary designated hitter. Position players who sustain UCL tears are often able to continue hitting, but throwing is obviously not an option with such an injury. Even in the event of a full Tommy John surgery, it should be noted that Harper could very likely return to the field as a DH for a notable portion of the 2023 season.
Shohei Ohtani, for instance, spent only the first five weeks or so of the 2019 season on the injured list before returning as a designated hitter. His surgery was performed in early October of 2018 — some seven weeks earlier in the offseason than Harper will go under the knife. Every player’s rehab is different, of course, but a summer return would seem plausible even in the worst-case scenario for Harper. If an internal brace procedure is sufficient, Harper could conceivably return in even shorter order.
Even with the damaged UCL, Harper remained a force in the middle of the Phillies’ lineup. Harper homered in three consecutive games following the diagnosis and batted .295/.381/.510 the rest of the way after learning of the tear. A broken thumb sustained when he was hit by a pitch sidelined him for a notable portion of the summer, but neither injury could prevent Harper from mashing when healthy enough to play. His postseason teetered on historic, as Harper slashed .349/.414/.746 with six home runs and seven doubles in just 71 plate appearances. His NLCS-winning home run against the Padres will forever be etched in Phillies lore.
Harper is still only four years into the 13-year, $330MM contract he signed as a free agent prior to the 2019 season, but to this point it’s hard to call the contract anything other than a roaring success. Since putting pen to paper and making Philadelphia his long-term home, Harper has batted a combined .282/.384/.546 (not including this year’s postseason exploits), won an NL MVP Award and helped bring the Phillies back to the postseason for the first time since 2011. He’s still owed $222MM over the remaining nine years of the deal, though with the typical AAV for premium players now well north of $30MM, that $24.667MM AAV looks like a bargain for Harper.
He’ll be fine.
Silver lining: if he DH ‘s all 2023 then he will play all 162 for the first time and crack 150 games for just the 5th time.
*4th time, oops typo
Speaking of the DH, I’ll bet a lot more Philly fans are in favor of it than they were before.
@Joe, interesting the non-reaction the adoption of the DH in the NL received. People fought it for years, then crickets once it arrived.
Yep. I was told many times by NL fans (not Philly fans specifically) that I wasn’t a real baseball fan because I like the DH.
I live in the Philly area and I’ve wanted the DH for years. Watching pitchers bat under .100 is not fun. It’s almost an automatic out. Most fans want to be entertained by athletes, not put to sleep.
I’ve wanted the DH for a long time, if only to level the playing field (so to speak) when it comes to signing FA’s. The AL teams could afford to offer more years because the player could pivot to DH on the back half. In the NL, they had to be expected to play in the field for the length of the contract, which put NL teams at a disadvantage.
He will miss half the season even as a DH with TJS.
He has no business being on the USA roster with an injury that significant. If I were the Phillies I’d do everything I could to make sure he’s rehabbing the whole offseason and not in full game action
agree
Do you really think he’s going to play now ??
I hughly doubt he will play and can still travel with the team. He’s been instrumental in recruiting star players to join and has stated he’s placing priority on the ’23 season over the WBC.
He’s obviously not going to play now. That was before the surgery news.
Schwarber Marsh Castellanos outfield for 23
That OF got them to the WS, but I’ll also point out that there is no indication that Harper won’t be able to play the field eventually.
As a position player, he should be back in approximately 6 months if all goes well. DHing by June, regular OF play the second half.
That time frame you are quoting is worst case if its full TJ surgery according to the article. If its an internal brace procedure he could be back much sooner.
Odds are it will be the full TJS. It hasn’t healed at all.
Well said.
Breaking news that Bryce Harper will be replaced on WBC roster by Jason Heyward. (Just kidding)
What luck for the Phillies that this injury occurred in the NL DH era that only began last year. Harper was able to play most of 2022 and might play in half of 2023. Before last season, he would have been relegated to pinch-hitting, or more likely bitten the bullet and gone right to surgery last summer.
That’s the glass half-full look. The other perspective is, it sucks he got hurt in the first place. Sucks even more he got drilled in the finger and missed half the season.
Of course it sucks, Von, but injuries are a big part of the game. Phils wouldn’t have gotten to the World Series in the pre-DH era because Harper would’ve likely had elbow surgery rather than risking further injury while being limited to DH.
Must admit it was fun to watch him (and to be fair some others) try and pick the Phillies on their backs and throw them over the line. Appreciate Harper isn’t everyone’s cup of sauce, but I watched a fierce competitor try his utmost.
Sincerely hope he heals well & quickly. The Phillies are a fun watch (and a white knuckle ride defensively) as a neutral…
I used to loathe Harper but now that he’s matured, I really enjoy watching him play. He’s turned into a true leader.
I’ve been saying the exact same thing. I didn’t like him at all with the Nats, and like him quite a bit with the Phillies.
Same with Machado.
@BleacherCreature – yeah – he’s (Machado) another.
@JoeBrady –
Papelbon, that you?
You should be hired by all 30 teams to be bench coach and mature these softies in a way only the Boston Strangler can.
Yes…
When Harper and Machado got a load of the hog dogging and need for attention that Tatis, Jr. and Acuna, Jr. were after while putting their teams 2nd, messing up plays and coming off like 12 year-old’s, they realized what they looked like and did a 180.
@DTD/ATL – yeah, you and me both. You’re right – he’s an absolute leader and that contract might not prove to be an albatross.
Plus, I rather like the interesting head/hair wear. Not enough of it in the game…
DTD, 100%
When he came up he was an obnoxious brat. He’s now one of my favorite players.
100%. You got to respect a balls out competitor. He has one gear only and it is great to watch.
Will the Phillies try to upgrade their defense at 1B?
I’m not shocked that he need surgery, but that TJS is even still on the table is annoying.
I expect D D to at the least add a first baseman that can play defense, as a late inning replacement for Hoskins.
Middle infield and SP is the priority. Plenty of defensive replacements for Hoskins on the roster already.
Hopefully it will be the less invasive surgery. I didn’t expect this news either.
Yup, think about horribly this affected him in the playoffs:)
With Hoskins under contract for one more year, I wonder if they are considering moving Harper to 1B post surgery With Harper being the starting 1B in 2024.
@idosteroids – It’s a thought but which defensive position is he safer in? Do you want geezers (let’s suggest Dan Vogelbach) thundering down the line at him, or do you prefer him throwing maybe three bullets a game from right field? Honestly, I see the idea, but not sure his arm would get that much more rest….
The bases are going to be slightly larger going into next season, maybe that dampens collisions at 1B. I can see the argument against having him at 1B from a defensive metrics stand point, but it restricts their flexibility so much with Harper solely at DH. If Jeff Bagwell can have a noodle arm at first, and still be productive….I think it adds a lot of potential value.
I figured the Yankees would’ve signed Harper as a free agent. Imagine him and Judge/Stanton in the same lineup the last 4 years. Add Harper to this years Yankees team and it’s possible they could have won it all. If George was still running the Yanks I’m sure Harper would’ve been in pinstripes.
Adding Harper alone doesn’t make the Yankees beat the Astros. Phillies had better pitching and offense.
The Phillies didn’t have better pitching and offense. They just got hot at the right time.The Yankees team era was 3.30 to Phillies 3.97. The Yankees scored 60 more runs.
@Mets6986 The Phillies were good since June. It’s more than a hotstreak. Compare the Phillies and Yankees 2022 season from June onward. Phils had better pitching and offense.
That’s a pretty good chunk of a season you want to ignore. I would still say the Yankees are about ten games better then the Phillies right now. We both now the playoffs is crapshoot. Adding one player doesn’t guarantee anything in the playoffs.
I’m not ignoring a chunk of the season. The comment was in response the playoffs specifically. Not the entire season, of which Harper didn’t even play most of it.
Fred McGriff claims the Yankees may win the series with Harper on their roster, but the Yankees got swept and were essentially shutdown completely. I don’t see Harper pushing them over the edge to somehow beat the Astros. Series wasn’t even close.
The Phillies had a better offense and pitching against the Astros. Harper was of course part of that, but overall the Phillies were just better than the Yankees come playoff time. And the Astros are better than both teams.
The comment about June was in response to the “Phillies just got hot comment.” Playing well since June is more than just getting hot. They got healthy, got a better manager and put it all together. The maintained success for quite some time, proving that they underperformed early.
Harper was really hot in the postseason. He might have carried a bunch of teams this year. I would have loved for the Mets to sign him. His contract is looking better every year he plays.
VonPurpleHayes: Yanks were the better team. You have to compare the full season. As for the postseason vs. the Astros, the Yanks gave them three good games. 6-5, 3-2, 5-0, 4-2.. The Phillies gave them 4 games. The Yanks went cold in October. The Phillies did not. Otherwise the Yanks were the better team. Especially when their bullpen wasn’t decimated. OPS+ 113 to 107.
Phillies ERA+ 103
NYY ERA+ 119
I’m replying to the comment about Harper making the Yanks win the WS. I don’t see it. Phils were better in the playoffs is all I said. Obviously Yanks better in the full season.
Got it. Thanks. Comparing postseasons, yes, you’re right.
The Phillies were 22-29 when Girardi was fired 51 games into the season.
They went 65-46 the remaining 111 games.
Under Girardi they hit .244 with a .710 OPS
They ended the season at .253 BA and .739 OPS. That means they hit something close to .259 BA and .748 OPS post Girardi, A huge improvement.
Under Girardi the pitching staff had a 4.04 ERA. They finished the season at a 3.98 ERA. So they performed at least slightly better after Girardi was fired.
I don’t follow them closely enough to know if that coincided with players returning from the IL at the beginning of June or if they just responded to better coaching.
The Yankees had no team chemistry and a brutal manager. You are dismissed.
If George was still at the helm, things obviously would’ve been a lot different. Boone would be gone. Judge would’ve never reached FA. Jeter, after retirement, would’ve owned a piece of the Yankees after George buys out a minority owner. Reggie Jackson would still be part of the org. Beltran would not be in the booth. Neither would’ve Marwin G. been a bench player. They also would have no farm system and remained known as the “Evil Empire” instead being just “good enough”.
I think a factor that gets overlooked is that everyone spends a ton these days. During George’s Evil Empire, the Yanks were the only team spending like that. Now we got 8-10 teama doing it every year. So it’s not just the lack of George which prevents the Evil Empire, it’s that more teams are willing to buy big FAs.
Harper will be out until the All Star break probably……
So with no shift, combined with a cheap salary m a y b e they take a flyer on Heyward for RF until his return?
Prayers for a successful surgery and a good rehab…
Better chance that Ronald Torreyes returns than Heyward. And Ronald has not been in the mix since Girardi left.
Phillies could be a dark horse for a one year contract for Wil Myers, who can player corner outfield or first base. Probably would cost 6 to 9 million for one year at this point.
Phillies have a plethora of outfielders and DH options. They don’t need to sign a new one. Hall can play 1B while Hoskins DHs. Or Nicky C can DH while Vierling plays RF. What they need is SS/2B option, and luckily there are 4 premiere SS on the FA market. I think the Phillies sign one of them (move Stott to 2B depending on who it is) and grab a quality SP. In my eyes. that’s a successful offseaon and puts the Phillies on pace for another playoff run. But in a division with the Braves and Mets, there are no guarantees.
vph – Heyward cost is league minimum.
I guess we divide on what is preferable Hall vs Heyward. Hall was a good story for sure. Vierling is making the team no matter what…
My take is with the shift going away, Heyward’s O may have a good uptick and his presence allows Castellanos more DH time until Harper returns…
But who knows what Heyward wants? The Phillies could offer him a lot of playing time in the first half of the season and a shot at another ring? Or does he sign with a second division team, hoping for a rebound and a trade to a contender. He’s only 33, maybe he has delusions of a last contract?
Hall’s bat is better than Heyward, but I thought Hall was a 1B or DH and not a RF option
If Harper is not ready to go opening day, Schwarber or Castellanos moves to DH until he returns and the Phillies move someone to LF/RF that can field the position at least somewhat like Vierling.
Vierling, Marsh, Castellanos would be my bet with Schwarber at DH
Heyward can ‘t hit. There is zero chance the Phillies sign him. He has no value, other than a late inning defensive replacement. It is possible that Harper is out until the all-star break, but extremely unlikely.
Strange not seeing Harper in the OF. It will be nice when he gets back there
I predict that Tatis Jr. will hit more home runs than Harper next year. Curious what others think?
21 and 22 year olds are brash even when they are not elite multi-millionaires. Just most of them do not live under the microscope. There are many many players who were young and arrogant like Harper who mature while playing. Hope Tatis Jr. is one of them someday, but no guarantees.
Ohtani was rehabbing to pitch. Harper might not require the same time
Ohtani rehabbed the same amount for any player to rehab to swing the bat. He was actually faster then some. He continued a different rehab to pitch and was not pitching a significant amount longer.
From paying attention to Dave Dom., it appears that the team will offer a contract to Rhys Hoskins..I think and I feel others might agree that with parting ways with Segura, who I really like, they will sign one of the top free agent short stops..we all have our favs, mine is Trea..I wouldn’t cry if it was Bogarts..Then, they will go after my choice every year.A R M S !…those that know me, know that I want arms, arms, arms, and then some arms..
Personally, I think they should go after some arms, arms, arms, and then some arms..