![]() ![]() Some of that, of course, is related to league-wide conditions. 308/.397/.538 for a 152 wRC+.īased on his batted ball results, which aren’t far off those of last year’s marks even given the limited sample, his batting line thus far this season should actually be even better than it is: In 121 career PA in the role (including 50 this year and 41 in 2020), still a small sample, he’s hit. While some players struggle when moving to DH duty - which may reflect their playing at less than full health, as well as some degree of the pinch-hitting penalty - that has not been a problem for Harper thus far. 276/.337/.513 line doesn’t look like much, but it’s good for a 142 wRC+ in this impoverished offensive environment, matching his career mark. He went 3-for-3 with a two-run double off Trevor Rogers on April 16, kicking off a stretch of 12 games during which he’s hit. He began the year in a 4-for-29 funk, with three of those four hits going for extra bases, including an RBI double on Opening Day against the A’s and a homer off the Mets’ Edwin Díaz on April 13, after the initial injury. The injury does not bother the 29-year-old slugger when he swings a bat, and so he’s been able to stay in the lineup. Harper took a break from throwing, underwent an MRI on April 21, and was diagnosed with a mild strain in his flexor mass. At the time, manager Joe Girardi described his condition as “a little irritation, a little tendinitis” in his throwing elbow, aggravated by throws made while playing right field against the Marlins from April 14-16. Though Harper DHed the next day, he played four more games in the field before returning to DH duty. He apparently injured the elbow while making a throw to home plate on an RBI single by the Mets’ Francisco Lindor on April 11:Īfterwards, Harper was seen grabbing his elbow:Īfter the throw to home plate, Bryce Harper grabbed his right elbow and looked in pain /tQ7Fh93yiw Instead, he’s remained in the lineup as the team’s DH for 12 straight games. Harper started eight of the team’s first nine games in right field, but he hasn’t played the position since April 16. The reigning NL MVP was supposed to be the team’s starting right fielder, but an elbow injury has led to him shelving his glove for the moment - and it’s coincided with him heating up after a slow start. The team’s plan at the outset of the season was to use its two new free agent sluggers, Castellanos and Schwarber, to occupy that role while minimizing their exposure in the field, yet for almost two weeks now, the position has been occupied by Bryce Harper. We went over this just a couple of weeks ago: between Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos, Rhys Hoskins, and Alec Bohm, the Phillies have no shortage of defensively challenged players who might be better served as the team’s designated hitter, and luckily for them, the DH is now a permanent thing in the National League.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |