Bryce Harper’s Lingering Wrist Injury Casts Shadow Over Phillies’ Season
Bryce Harper first reported wrist pain in May 2024. Though the discomfort seemed to ease as the season progressed, the same issue has resurfaced more than a year later. On June 7, the Philadelphia Phillies placed their franchise cornerstone on the 10-day injured list, hoping that rest and treatment can finally resolve what’s become a persistent problem.
Harper’s importance to the team — both as a competitor and the face of the franchise — makes his recurring injury deeply unsettling for both the organization and fans. While the Phillies are capable of treading water in the short term, concerns are mounting about how long they can compete without him at full strength. If this injury continues to flare up throughout the year, questions about Harper’s effectiveness and the lineup’s overall production will only grow louder.
Unfortunately, there is no clear timeline for Harper’s return. “It’s been long enough to where it’s gotten to the point where I can’t really function on a baseball field or hit a baseball,” Harper said recently in Pittsburgh, according to MLB.com’s Paul Casella. He added that he needs time to let the wrist calm down before even considering a return.
While Harper has reportedly begun responding well to treatment, per Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic, it remains uncertain when he’ll be back in the lineup.
The Phillies, meanwhile, have struggled in his absence. Last season, they managed a 10–7 record during Harper’s IL stint with a hamstring strain — much of it without Kyle Schwarber. This year, the situation is less forgiving. They’ve gone just 3–7 without Harper, who had already missed five games a week earlier after taking a 95 mph fastball to the elbow from Spencer Strider.
Despite the team’s offensive talent, they’ve failed to regain the spark that carried them to a 36–20 start. In June, the lineup is hitting just .223 as a group, and the pitching staff has stumbled as well — posting a 5.33 ERA over their last 10 games.
Still, there’s hope. The Phillies snapped a rough stretch with a thrilling 11-inning walk-off against the Cubs on Monday, followed by a solid 7–2 win on Tuesday. Teams hit rough patches, but the key is not letting them define the season.
The Phillies remain contenders, even in Harper’s absence. It’s not the scenario anyone hoped for, but history shows it’s not insurmountable. Just last year, Freddie Freeman led a postseason charge while battling injury, and the Braves famously won the 2021 World Series without Ronald Acuña Jr.
Harper has proven his resilience before — most notably playing through a torn UCL during the Phillies’ 2022 World Series run. Now, the hope is that with proper rest, he can return stronger and pain-free as the season heads into its critical stretch.
