Categories: News

Bryce Harper leaves Spring Training game after being hit by pitch on ankle

CLEARWATER, FL – MARCH 02: Bryce Harper (3) speaks to the media during the Bryce Harper Press Conference on March 02, 2019 at the Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire)

There’s less than two weeks until the Philadelphia Phillies welcome the Atlanta Braves to Citizens Bank Park for Opening Day. So here’s a development worth monitoring.

In the fifth inning of Friday afternoon’s Grapefruit League tilt, Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Trent Thornton hit Bryce Harper on the right ankle with a 96 MPH fastball.

After exchanging a few words with Thornton, Harper walked slowly off the field and back into the Phillies dugout. Shane Robinson, a non-roster invitee to Spring Training, pinch-ran for Harper and ultimately replaced him in right field.

It’s possible that the Phillies were planning to take Harper out after his third at-bat of the day anyway, though manager Gabe Kapler unquestionably would have preferred to do it on his own terms.

Harper briefly returned to the dugout and sat down for an at-bat, before getting up and walking with a bit of a limp back to the clubhouse at Spectrum Field.

The six-time All-Star, who the Phillies signed to a 13-year/$330 million contract earlier this month, will have an X-Ray on his ankle. However, Kapler spoke after the game stating per Meghan Montemurro that “We don’t have reason for concern”

at this time.

We will update this story should further information come available.