Harper’s slow start to the spring now maybe has a cause – a stiff back.
Bryce Harper was not in the lineup for either of the Phillies’ split squad games at home against the Pirates or on the road against the Yankees on Monday, the fourth straight game the Phils’ first baseman has missed in a row. Typically, Harper and other veterans don’t make road trips, especially long ones, so it’s not surprising he hasn’t played in all of them, but it was eyebrow-raising that he didn’t appear in Sunday’s home game against the Blue Jays.
Following the Phils’ 5-5 tie with Toronto Sunday, manager Rob Thomson illuminated the reason for the slugger’s absence when he announced Harper was dealing with some back stiffness, per MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki.
“He’s been doing a lot of work. A lot of swings, a lot of defensive work. He got a little stiff, so we’re just being precautious. We’ll just back him off for a few days.”
When asked his level of concern regarding Harper’s back, Thomson replied, “None. Zero,” and that he would “for sure” be in the lineup by the end of the week and Opening Day next Thursday.
On the latest edition of Hittin’ Season, we discussed why we don’t really agree that the concern level should be “zero.”
Harper, for one, isn’t worried about it, either. He talked to reporters on Monday and explained his back stiffness saying, “I kind of overdid it,” with regard to his spring workouts. He told reporters the soreness is in a different place than previous ones and that he is “pretty confident” he’s “fine.”
This isn’t the first time back issues have crept up for Harper, although they have largely been minor and only resulted in him missing a couple games here and there. Last year, he left a game against the Nationals on August 10 after five innings and didn’t play the following day due to back spasms. He returned to the lineup and hit .295 with a .441 on-base percentage and slugged .651 with 14 HRs in his final 43 games.
Clearly some back stiffness or spasms aren’t, on their face, a big deal and he’s dealt with them ever since his arrival in Philadelphia, although none have required him to visit the Injured List. Harper has a violent swing and now plays a position that requires him to be bent over for hours at a time.
It should be noted Harper started at designated hitter in the three games following his return and only started back-to-back games at first base twice between August 12 and September 5. This season, Harper is slated to be the primary starter at first base, with Kyle Schwarber getting the bulk of plate appearances at DH. So while Thomson’s concern over Harper’s back stiffness is at “zero” (and if you believe that I have swampland in Jacksonville you might be interested in), that number could change should Harper not be able to play first base as much as the team had hoped this season. Should he be forced to DH, who plays first?
Alec Bohm is the most likely answer, with Jake Cave being the left-handed alternative should he make the team. Darrick Hall is another option from the left side of the plate should Cave fail to make the 26-man roster. If it’s Bohm, who plays third? Edmundo Sosa? Can Whit Merrifield hack it there? And if Schwarber is forced to play left field, how does that affect his balky knee? What does that mean for Johan Rojas and/or Brandon Marsh?
There would be ripple effects to the Phillies’ plans at first base going awry with a persistent back soreness that would force Harper off the field.
Granted, we’re still a long way from that, but it’s something the Phillies need to consider. Not only that, Harper has struggled at the plate this spring, something that was not of great concern until this news popped up.
In nine games and 22 at-bats, Harper has just five hits and only one of them is for extra bases, a double. He is hitting .227/.346/.273 and has not hit the ball in the air with any regularity this spring. By comparison, in his last healthy spring in 2022, he slugged eight homers.
Of course, many of the Phils’ veterans aren’t hitting this spring and, if you had to choose, you’d rather your offensive stars struggle than your pitchers. So far, the pitchers have been fine. One would expect the bats to pick it up when the team heads to Philadelphia to play the Braves on Opening Day.
That all assumes they’re healthy. For Bryce Harper and his back, there’s no reason for panic, but there also shouldn’t be “zero” concern for anyone being honest about the situation.
