The Phillies received a bit of good news on Tuesday, learning that Bryce Harper is set to have the pins removed from his brown left thumb. There’s still no definite timetable for his return, but it looks like everything is healing as expected.
Harper broke his left thumb way back on 26 June in a game in San Diego against the Padres. Friars left-hander Blake Snell missed up and in with a heater, and it caught Harper in the hand. It wasn’t a pretty scene, as the two-time NL MVP crumpled to the ground. The team announced soon after that he would require surgery to repair the fracture, and would be out indefinitely.
Now, less than a month later, the Phils have held their own in Harper’s absence, entering the All-Star break in possession of the third and final wildcard spot. However, the Cardinals and Giants are hot on their heels, and they could certainly use Harper’s thunderous bat back in the heart of the lineup.
It’s still likely that his thumb will keep Harper out through at least most of August, but at least there haven’t been any setbacks yet. This team is built to win now, and if they want to lock themselves into a playoff spot they’ll need their best player back as soon as possible.