In honor of Bryce Harper’s return, let’s break down the timeline of his most recent injury and how on earth, he’s a superhuman.
Bryce hasn’t always been part of the Phillies, even though it seems like it. He was the first overall pick in the 2010 draft and was drafted by the Washington Nationals. After an April 28, 2012 debut with the Nationals, he played for them until the end of the 2018 season before eventually signing with the Phillies. With the Nationals, he won the Rookie of the Year Award (2012), tied the National League in home runs (2015), and at 22 years old, in 2015, he won the NL MVP. He also was a 6-time All-Star, Silver Slugger, Hank Aaron Award Winner, and Home Run Derby champion (2018) with the Nats.
He signed with the Phillies for 330 million dollars over 13 years, which at the time was the richest contract in North American Sports. Since becoming a Phillie, Harper has been an all-star (2022), MVP (2021), NLCS MVP (2022), Silver Slugger (2021), and Hank Aaron Award Winner. Harper started his time in Philly with a bang, a 465ft home run to right field.
Since then, Bryce has been a critical piece of the Phillies lineup. What makes his return unique? The speed of it; let’s take a look
April 2022 - Harper is injured during a throw from the outfield.
May 12, 2022 - Phillies announce Harper had a small tear in his right UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) and shut down his throwing for a month. Harper moves into the Designated Hitter role at this point.
June 25, 2022 - During a game against the San Diego Padres, Blake Snell hits Harper’s thumb with a 97-mph fastball. Harper was removed from the game and later announced that he had a fracture in his thumb.
June 29, 2022 - Harper undergoes surgery to repair his left thumb, and after successful surgery, a return in August is the plan.
Harper was also elected as the designated hitter for the 2022 All-Star Game. He is unable to compete. Harper hit .318 / .358 / .599 with 15 home runs, 21 doubles, and 48 RBIs before his surgery.
August 23, 2022 - Harper, in a rehab appearance for the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, homers twice.
August 26, 2022 - Harper returns to the Phillies lineup and drives 2 RBIs. The thumb is healed, but he still has the UCL tear. He is the designated hitter for the rest of the season and the postseason.
During the 2022 Postseason, Harper’s bat was impressive. He hit .349 / .414 / .746 with six home runs, seven doubles, 22 hits, and 13 RBIs. Harper won NLCS MVP after his 2 run home-run in the NLCS against the San Diego Padres. How’s that for poetic justice?
After losing the World Series to the Houston Astros, Harper underwent Tommy John surgery on November 23, 2022, with an initial timeline of the 2023 all-star break return.
During Spring Training 2023, Harper comes to camp a week late but shows improvement and progress in the recovery, making strides to beat his mid-summer timetable return.
May 1, 2023 - While the East Coast waits for news, Harper is cleared by his doctor in LA to play. This has been 159 days since the surgery.
May 2, 2023 - Harper makes his first appearance of the 2023 season as the designated hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He went 0-4 in his first season appearance with three strikeouts.
It is unclear when he will return to the field and in which position he will play. He has been working out a first base.
This is the quickest return from Tommy John Surgery for any major league player.
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