Bryce Harper Breaks His Left Thumb

By: Joshua Nakhavanit

Bryce Harper, a professional baseballer for the Philadelphia Phillies, broke his left thumb. He was receiving a pitch from San Diego Padres’ Blake Snell. This injury could affect the game of baseball in a variety of ways.

It was the 4th inning. The Phillies were ahead 4-2. Harper checked his stance, but a pitched ball hit his hand as he was leaning back. His team said he would not be playing for an extended period of time.

“I’ve never had a hand injury like this,” said Harper, standing in the locker room. “Never broken anything in my life. This is new to me, so I’m just going to go day by day, see kind of where we’re at and see the specialist in Philly. And if I do need to see another specialist somewhere, then I will.”

Feeling immediate pain, Harper fell to his knees and cradled his hand. The Phillies trainer Paul Buchheit rushed onto the field to inspect the wound. Trainers couldn’t tell if Harper needed immediate surgery. Last season he was hit by a ball in the face and was out for only a few days.

“I kind of wish it would’ve hit me in the face. I don’t break bones in my face,” Harper said with a laugh. “I can take [a 98-mph pitch] to the face, but I can’t take 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. It’s just a bummer. I am really bummed out.”