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Phillies Nuggets: Latest on Bryce Harper & Jean Segura

Bryce Harper is the reigning NL MVP. (John Jones/Icon Sportswire)

Bryce Harper didn’t get the three pins in his fractured left thumb removed Monday in a follow-up visit with Pedro Beredjiklian, who performed the surgery on June 29 after the seven-time All-Star was hit by a pitch by San Diego Padres’ starter Blake Snell.

Harper revealed this to the assembled media Monday afternoon, including Todd Zolecki of MLB.com.

The Phillies say they weren’t especially surprised that the pins weren’t ready to come out yet.

“I mean, we kind of expected it,” interim manager Rob Thomson said. “It would have been nice if it was completely healed, but we’ll make sure that he’s safe and healthy. But we expected it.”

Harper will be re-evaluated again next Monday and the Phillies will know more about the status of the reigning National League MVP.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski also spoke in the dugout prior to the team’s series opener against the Atlanta Braves. The veteran executive continued on the message that the team and Harper have pushed since the injury initially occurred — he’ll be back, it’s just a matter of when.

“I know Bryce talked to you earlier today and he’s eager to get back,” Dombrowski said. “I don’t have a timeframe on it. Hopefully the pins come out next week. From there, I mean he’s gonna need some time after that. But it’s also not one of those where I think it’s long enough where you go out to trade for somebody that’s going to take that position on your team because I do think he’s going to be back and play.”

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Meanwhile, Dombrowski said that he believes that second baseman Jean Segura is the closest of the notable injured players on the team to returning.

Segura (fractured index finger) took batting practice, ground balls and was making throws on the field early this afternoon. Once he wrapped up, he told Phillies Nation that his finger “felt good” while going through baseball activities Monday.

The two-time All-Star will begin a rehab stint with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs Tuesday, Thomson said while also noting how impressed he is at the pace that Segura has recovered after undergoing surgery.

“I don’t know how long it [the rehab stint] will take, but he certainly looks a lot better than I expected at this point,” Thomson said. “So far, so good.”

Dombrowski noted that Segura is eligible to come off of the 60-day injured list on July 31, not the Aug. 3 date that had previously been mentioned. That doesn’t mean he will necessarily come back that quickly, but it appears the Phillies may ultimately get Segura back about a month earlier than initially anticipated.

The Nuggets

Reliever Sam Coonrod (strained shoulder) may be relatively close to returning to the Phillies bullpen. Reports were that Coonrod was sitting between 96 and 99 mph last Friday for Single-A Clearwater. Thomson says that Coonrod is now slated to pitch for Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Zack Wheeler had the following to say Monday when asked about the possibility of the Phillies pursuing his former teammate Noah Syndergaard if he becomes available: “He’s been around a while now. He’s a power arm. Honestly, I haven’t really followed him that much this year. So I don’t know how he’s doing, but yeah, he’s been around … he’s got the experience. He knows this division. And he’s a good pitcher.”
First-round pick Justin Crawford has reached a deal with the Phillies and was at Citizens Bank Park with his family Monday, including his dad, four-time All-Star Carl Crawford. While he was wearing a No. 3 jersey, Crawford acknowledged that he’s aware he’s going to have to switch that number.