Phillies’ Bryce Harper Hit by 95-mph Fastball, Leaves Game With Injury

Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider hit Phillies star Bryce Harper with a 95-mph fastball in the first inning Tuesday in Philadelphia, causing the first baseman to exit the game.

The pitch hit Harper in the right elbow — the same elbow on which he had Tommy John surgery after the 2022 World Series.

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Edmundo Sosa took over for Harper as the pinch runner and stayed in the game as the Phillies’ third baseman.

Harper, a two-time National League MVP, is hitting .267 this season with eight home runs and 33 RBIs. He’s in the seventh year of a 13-year, $330 million contract signed before the 2019 season.

Strider, an All-Star in 2023, is making only his third start of 2025, the result of two injuries.

The right-hander underwent a season-ending internal brace procedure on his right elbow in April 2024, and the ensuing recovery period delayed his debut until April 16.

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After that game, a five-inning outing against the Blue Jays in Toronto, Strider went back on the injured list with a hamstring strain. This is his second start in his return.

One of baseball’s hardest throwers prior to his elbow injury, Strider struck out an MLB-leading 281 batters in just 186.2 innings across 32 starts in 2023. He made the National League All-Star team that year, and was fourth in NL Cy Young voting, while going 20-5 with a league-leading 2.85 FIP (fielding independent pitching).

Harper is just the 16th batter Strider has hit in 70 career games (57) starts.

More to come on this story from Newsweek Sports.