Bryce Harper left Tuesday’s game against the Braves in the first inning, leaving Phillies fans holding their breath.
The Phillies star was hunched over in pain after he got hit on his right elbow by Braves starter Spencer Strider on an 0-1 pitch with two outs.
Harper underwent X-rays, which came back negative, and initial reports indicate he’s dealing with a right elbow contusion.
The pitch drilled him square on the elbow, despite Harper’s best effort to get out of the way of the 96.5 mph fastball, and sent him running out of the batter’s box in pain.
Harper walked back to the on-deck circle before kneeling in pain as the crowd reacted to the hit by pitch.
A Phillies trainer came rushing out to check on Harper, and he was taken out of the game.
Harper appeared to still be in an immense amount of pain as he got up to walk into the Phillies’ dugout and down into the clubhouse.
Harper had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow after the 2022 World Series to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament.
Edmundo Sosa entered the game as a pinch-runner for Harper and was put at third base in the next inning as Alex Bohm moved over to first base to take the two-time MVP’s position.
The Phillies scored their first run of the game an inning later when they took a 1-0 lead.