Bryce Harper is dealing with lingering soreness in his left knee, according to The Athletic, as he continues to transition back to the outfield, helping the Phillies reshape their lineup in the wake of acquiring Luis Arraez at the Trade Deadline.
The soreness dates back to July 11, when he injured it on a slide into second on a double against the Tigers. He dealt with the pain through All-Star festivities before it went away, only to come back as he’s returned to right field.
“I was not feeling it,” Harper said Tuesday, according to The Athletic. “But the more I’ve ramped it up, I’ve gotten sore. I think the more I play, I think it’ll help me -- just getting in condition more. I feel like I’m in Spring Training again, trying to get through everything. The more I play, the more my body is accustomed to playing the outfield, I think it’ll kind of weasel its way out.”
Harper started in right field on Aug. 4, his first appearance at the position since April 16, 2022. He’d primarily played first base ever since returning from Tommy John surgery in 2023. Thus, the Phillies were cognizant that they’d have to build Harper's arm back up, but this knee soreness is now an added piece to what was already a complicated puzzle.
In eight games since adding Arraez to the lineup, Harper has played right field six times and served as the designated hitter twice. He has also been replaced defensively in the ninth inning twice.
“It’s not to the point where it’s, ‘Oh crap,’” Harper told NBC Sports Philadelphia's Jim Salisbury on Tuesday in St. Louis. “I can still play. I can manage it.”
Harper feels the soreness mostly when he suddenly stops or breaks in the outfield. His hitting and full-speed running have not been affected.
Harper has played in all 121 games thus far in 2026.
“Obviously it’s bothering me a little bit,” Harper said, according to The Athletic. “But we’ll see. I’ll take a DH [day] any time I can get it, but I don’t think we’re at that point yet.”