Bryce Harper has been battling injuries for most of the season and even said he might need knee surgery in the coming months. He missed about five weeks with a knee injury, and he’s missed some time lately with a hip injury. Harper told CSN Washington in an interview that he traces a lot of his health problems back to when he slammed into the right field wall at Dodger Stadium on May 13.
“Ever since I hit the wall, pretty much every day I feel something different,” Harper told CSN Washington. “When something else feels better, the next thing hurts. It’s pretty much just the left side of my whole body. That’s the only thing that hurts me, really. Everything on the right side of my body feels great. If the right side of my body felt like the left side of my body, I’d probably be screwed.”
There was a huge debate about the way Harper plays the game following that play. Harper left the game after bloodying his face, but no major injuries were reported. He missed the Nationals’ next game and pinch hit in the following game before returning to the lineup regularly.
Harper was unapologetic for knocking himself out of the game on the play, while the world’s most notorious hustler said Harper played the game “recklessly.”
Harper later admitted he was scared to crash into a wall again. After hearing his recent comments, maybe now we know that he is scared of that because he wants to preserve his long-term health.
Harper is batting .275/.378/.507 this season. He’s played in 100 games this season and will end up seeing less action this year than last despite not opening the season with the club.
via DC Sports Bog
