Bryce Harper to have elbow surgery; Tommy John surgery not ruled out
The Philadelphia Phillies still don’t know if Bryce Harper will need Tommy John surgery, and thus cannot give an estimated date for his return.
David Dombrowski, president of baseball operations for the Philadelphia Phillies, announced that outfielder Bryce Harper will undergo surgery next week to repair a ligament in his right elbow. The ulnar collateral ligament discomfort had plagued him throughout the 2022 MLB season.
The president of operations also indicated that it is not yet certain whether Tommy John surgery will be necessary. Because of this, there is no estimated date for Harper’s return to sports activity.
Harper’s reduced role in 2022
Since the team discovered a torn ligament in his elbow in May, Harper stopped playing the field and was solely used as the designated hitter. At 370 AB, the 30-year-old hit .286/.364/.514 then to connect 106 hits, drive in 65 runs and add 18 home runs.
During the Phillies’ postseason run, Harper was instrumental in helping the team reach the MLB World Series as he had 13 RBIs and six home runs.
With Harper absent due to rehabilitation, the expected right fielder for the 2023 season will be Nick Castellanos. The other Philadelphia outfielders on the roster of 40 include Brandon Marsh, Nick Maton, Simon Muzziotti, Johan Rojas, Kyle Schwarber, Matt VIerling, and Jhailyn Ortiz.
Options for Harper
According to The Athletic, Harper visited the specialist Neal El Attrache who proposed two scenarios for his full recovery. One, to undergo Tommy John surgery and commit to a long rehabilitation. Two, to rest the elbow and hope the injury doesn’t get worse.