How long will Bryce Harper be out? All you need to know about Phillies superstar's injury

The Philadelphia Phillies are currently reeling with eight losses in their last nine games, including a 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday. Their two losses against the Pirates have come without star figure Bryce Harper in the lineup who has had to sit out due to a wrist injury inflammation.

The Phillies slugger has been placed on the 10-day IL that is retroactive to Friday. Bryce Harper's injury comes after he was out for five games due to an elbow contusion after being hit by Atlanta Braves' Specer Strider on May 27. He returned for last week's clash against the Toronto Blue Jays but is now sidelined again due to the wrist injury.

Harper had been dealing with the issue since last May, although he played through it till October's postseason. Earlier, he had revealed that he felt pain-free from December of last year till early parts of the current season, but the injury seems to have aggravated to the point where he can't hold up a bat anymore.

Unlike last season, the team and Harper himself have decided that it will be best for him to take some time off. It also must be noted that the elbow injury might have fast tracked the pain to the point where the decision was inevitable.

"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 or anything like that," Harper said. "So, it's just a good time for me to take some time and get it right." "Just got to get through the treatment phase and see what I can do," Harper said. "But we've got to get it to calm down and [I'll] get out there when I can."

Phillies manager Rob Thomson unconcerned for the time being about Bryce Harper's status

Phillies manager Rob Thomson made his feelings known about Bryce Harper's injury, stating that the team feels that with proper treamtment Harper can be back on the field this season.

"I would think that it's going to take less time since he's here and can get treatment," manager Rob Thomson said. "So I'm hoping that it's real quick." "Not really [concerned], because I don't really know much about it," Thomson said. "So I can't comment much about that."

Harper had a serious dip in his numbers for the second half of 2024 when his OPS dipped from .982 pre-All Star break to .793 post-All Star break. Alec Bohm has slotted in Harper's position at first base while prospect Otto Kemp has taken over in the other corner.

Edited by Nadim El Kak