Bryce Harper returns to Phillies lineup after injury hiatus

In the United States, Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies faced live pitching at Truist Park as he approached his return from a right wrist injury. Harper sustained the injury that led to his placement on the 10-day injured list on June 6, 2025. This injury sidelined him for 22 games, and during that time, the Phillies played 21 matches without him, recording a 11-9 record. After traveling with the team to Atlanta for a workout, Harper's performance was praised by Phillies manager Rob Thomson, who noted that his bat speed and timing appeared to be in good shape. The manager, however, decided against having him work out on the field the following day, indicating a cautious approach to his recovery. As of June 30, 2025, Harper was reinstated from the injured list ahead of a game against the San Diego Padres. The decision was made based on Harper stating his wrist felt significantly better than it did earlier in the season, despite acknowledging that some management of the injury would be necessary for the remainder of the season. He detailed feeling he had reached a standstill in recovery over the past few days but felt prepared to return to competitive play. In total, Harper has played 57 games this season, achieving a batting average of .258, with 13 doubles, nine home runs, and 34 runs batted in. His previous experience includes being drafted first overall by the Washington Nationals in the 2010 MLB draft and signing as a free agent with the Phillies in 2019. The reboot of his career in the team comes after significant absence due to the wrist injury, which he has struggled with since early June.