Here are three things for MLBTR readers to keep an eye on throughout the day:
1. Harper to be re-evaluated following HBP:
The Phillies endured a scary moment last night when superstar Bryce Harper exited in the first inning after a wayward pitch from Atlanta ace Spencer Strider struck his elbow. Notably, the afflicted elbow was the one that required Tommy John surgery prior to the 2023 season. The Phillies later labeled the issue a right elbow contusion, and manager Rob Thomson confirmed to reporters following the game that x-rays on Harper’s elbow came back negative (link via MLB.com’s Paul Casella). Thomson added that Harper “was certainly in a lot of pain,” however, and would need to be re-evaluated today. No player can reasonably be expected to replace a perennial MVP candidate like Harper, but if he requires some time away to recover, Alec Bohm could slide over to first base as Edmundo Sosa takes reps at the hot corner.
2. Seager to return:
The Rangers have seemed hapless on offense for much of this year, in part because superstar Corey Seager has only been able to anchor the lineup for 26 of the club’s 56 games due to multiple trips to the injured list. Texas is on the cusp of getting his bat back in the lineup, however. Manager Bruce Bochy told the Rangers beat last night that he “fully anticipates” Seager to return from the injured list today (link via Kennedi Landry of MLB.com).
That Seager will be activated off the IL is especially exciting for the Rangers given that they’ve also recently lost center fielder Evan Carter and DH Joc Pederson to the injured list. Seager’s return to the lineup at shortstop should free up utilityman Josh Smith to play elsewhere, though it’s at least plausible that the Rangers could give Seager some starts at DH in the short-term to help ease him back into full baseball activities.
3. Bart under evaluation following head injury:
Pirates catcher Joey Bart was struck in the head with a backswing behind the plate last night, and Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes that he was still undergoing evaluation following last night’s game. The power that made Bart an impactful player for the Pirates last year has not yet shown up in 2025, but he’s still slashing .240/.347/.308 with a solid enough wRC+ of 90 across 44 games. Henry Davis is on the roster as the backup catcher, should Bart require a day or two, but a longer absence for Bart would require a non-roster catcher like Brett Sullivan to be selected to the roster as a backup to Davis. Fellow catcher Endy Rodriguez is also on the injured list after requiring stitches in his throwing hand last month.
Will Bart change his walk up song to “Ain’t that a kick in the head”?
I kid, but that will teach him not to lean in too far unless that hitter took a freaky swing. In a couple decades of catching and hundreds of games from Little League on, never had that happen.
Since it happened to O’hoppe only 2 days prior to this me thinks it’s more frequent then u realize
This one, Depressed: Do you know if Bart wears the hockey goalie type mask or the more traditional one?
Bart wears the more traditional style, but on a backswing it really doesn’t matter which one he wears.
Traditional
Maybe today but it never used to.
Nope, I’m sticking with Missy Elliot’s, ‘Get Ur Freak On’.
I played so long ago, we didn’t have walk up songs (and there was good music in the 80s).
I’d hope they bring up Endy even though he’s not doing great at Indy (only 4 for his last 26. But he’d be a better option than Brett Sullivan whom I’ve never heard of and could play 1B some.
1. Thoughts and prayers for Harper.
2. Welcome back to The Show.
3. Thoughts and prayers for Bart.
Pitchers are too wild. We need pitching machines instead.
Old York: Don’t give Manfred any ideas!
@avenger65
We could speed up the game in a few ways.
1. Use a pitching machine.
2. Only use batters with no infielders or outfielders. Use existing data to determine if a play would have been made. For example, they already know that a certain play has a 99% chance of an out, so the batter would be out automatically.
3. Use robo-umps/strike zone so we don’t have to waste time hearing the manger complain about a bad call.
We could fit the game nicely into a 1-hour timeslot and have enough time for the channels to air the other dramas before people go to bed at 10:00pm. Problem solved.
But not everyone goes to bed at 10 pm just because you do.
@Blue Baron
I’m over 200 years old, so I can’t stay up so late like young chaps as yourself.
Old York: All good ideas. The only thing is, I thought when they said they might use robo-umps it would be an actual robot, with arms, legs and a torso, calling balls and strikes. And I’d hate to have to go to the bathroom in a one hour game 🙂
A concussion – no matter how “minor” it may be – is a Traumatic BRAIN Injury.
A Traumatic BRAIN Injury – no matter how “minor” – is far more dangerous to a player’s health and life than a torn ligament that can be repaired with surgery.
Do not let your sons play football; a game which requires them to use their heads as battering rams. You don’t want their BRAINS to be Traumatically Injured.
I played many years of football without a single injury. If you are using your head as a battering ram instead of your shoulder, you don’t know how to tackle correctly.
But agree a brain injury is much more serious!
Nonsense!
Players are TAUGHT to use their heads as battering rams. Offensive linemen do it on every running player. Many tackles are made by NFL players leading with their heads.
And, yes, I played – many years and at a high level.
Why should we follow your guidance? You have been hit in the head too many times.
Let assume you meant Defensive lineman and hope that the offensive lineman are not tackling their own running backs!
Yes Defensive linemen are taught to tackle differently, you are being grabbed by the offense so you do whatever you can, get an arm out, put you head into them, whatever it takes. This is close quarters tackling,
I was talking about open field tackles, 3/4 to full speed running involved, if you are using your head then, it is on you.
Also just because some coaches like to hit with their heads does not mean it is the correct way to tackle. I never said it wasn’t TAUGHT that way. If a coach TAUGHT you to dive and lead with your head, in hopes he falls down… that is called a hit. Tackling is hitting with shoulders, wrapping and bringing them down. Football has changed so much, now they just hit them and punch at the ball, that is why so many running backs are “breaking tackles” in the NFL now.
Before he leaves Philly, Acuna needs to feel Harper’s pain.
That would be the Philly thing to do now wouldnt it?
Of course. Anything below the neck is fair game. The universal DH leaves no other options.
I’d say the Braves being 9 1/2 games behind the Phillies is pain enough
Sounds more like a ‘Captain Dunsel and Skyrider123 thing’ based on this exchange.
Sorry to disappoint your hatred of Philadelphia, but the Phillies are one of a few teams that don’t normally retaliate. Rob Thompson just doesn’t believe in it. Winning the game is the best retaliation but that being said can’t keep letting pictures hit their best hitter
“Aim for his knees.”
Phillies Phans.
@Captain Dunsel
Agreed, seems like fair game but MLB will come down on that pitcher and suspend him for a few games.
That is where the pitchers at the bottom of the bullpen can step up and really contribute. (Calling Max Lazar….)
@Captain Dunsel
Don’t worry, Acuna is Mike Trout Jr. He’ll injure himself sometime during the season and be out for another year or two. Braves will be looking to turn him into a DH in the coming years.
It’s not about Acuna. He has the misfortune of being Harper’s closest comparable player since Strider won’t be coming to bat. It’s about protecting your own personnel. While hitting above the shoulders is never justifiable, some old ways are still best.
@Captain Dunsel: You misspelled “Dunce” in your screen name. You’re welcome.
@Captain Dunsel: A Phillies fan complaining about an errant pitch when they watch one of the league’s premier headhunters throw up an in on a more than regular basis. If a Philly hitter was hbp by an opposing pitcher every time Wheeler throws inside @ head level, the Phils would need a stretcher in the dugout.
Throwing up and in is perfectly fine as long as the pitcher has great control. I have no problem with the same standards being applied to my favorite team. I personally think that any pitcher hitting a batter in the head or neck should receive immediate ejection and suspension.
“Legendary pinpoint control” huh. Guess he just broke Nick Allen’s hand when he hit him on purpose then. Obvious head hunting by Wheeler. Btw—although I live in Nashville, I’m from Atlanta. I’ve never bothered responding to any of your asinine comments on the site until now and I won’t in the future. I don’t mute anyone here—-even the idiots like you. Consider yourself “dismissed” and ignored.
What are the Pirates doing with Endy Rodriguez? He’s been out almost 2 months with stitches in his finger. They never said his finger was broken.
He had a setback weeks ago following the stitches. He’s playing again but Davis and Bart were doing okay without him.
Endy has been catching at Indy. They can call him up.
Hope Davis steps up need that power! He has liget 25 hr power and cannon arm!
Joey Bart has a great swing, I liked him in SF, hope the knock in the head doesn’t derail his emergence as a legitimate bat. Henry Davis has looked good at the plate too, I like his approach at the plate too, I think is going to start hitting. IKF having a good season. Its not all bad in Pittsburgh.