With just one pitch, Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies are now facing a tough new reality. After San Diego Padres pitcher Blake Snell threw a 97 mph fastball at Harper's hand, fracturing his left thumb, Harper is now expected to miss extended time – with the off chance that his season could very well be over.
Harper spoke to reporters shortly after the Phillies-Padres game that ended 5-3 in his team's favor. The reigning MVP had a rather daring request that showed just how frustrated he was over having to fall into the injured list:
Via Richard J. Marcus of Fox 29 Philadelphia:
“I kind of wish it hit me in the face,” said Harper, who was wearing a splint on his thumb. “I don’t break bones in my face. I think I can take 98 (mph) to the face, but not 97 to the thumb. Yeah, I was kind of in protection mode a little bit trying to get my hand up there and not let it hit me again.
“I kinda wish it had hit me in my face. I don’t break bones in my face.” pic.twitter.com/w40VB06duo
— DFAntastic (@PhillyTradesman) June 26, 2022
Bryce Harper knows what he's talking about, too. The Phillies star was hit right in the face with a 98 mph fastball in 2021 and somehow just missed three games before returning to the lineup.
Génesis Cabrera hits Bryce Harper in the face and Didi Gregorius in the ribs with his first two pitches
Benches get warned and Joe Girardi gets ejected, yelling "throw the ball over the fucking plate!" on his way out. Cardinals manager Mike Shildt yelled back pic.twitter.com/PLMmBQhvCt
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) April 29, 2021
Knowing that his absence puts the Phillies in danger of missing the playoffs and derails another potential MVP season, you just know Bryce Harper isn't kidding around that he'd rather take the pitch to his noggin – however danger that is.
Harper had been sporting his highest batting average ever with the Phillies, hitting .318 with 15 home runs and 49 RBIs before suffering the unfortunate hand injury.
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