Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is returning to Washington, D.C. to undergo tests on his injured left hip, reports Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post. Harper, who has battled soreness in the hip for at least a week, was scratched from the lineup on Saturday after receiving a day off on Wednesday to rest the injury.
Bryce Harper injury: Nationals OF aggravates hip
Washington’s young All-Star was scratched from the lineup on Saturday and will return to D.C. for more tests.
Chris Gardner
Harper admitted this week that he's been playing hurt all season. He banged up his ribs in a collision with an outfield wall in April, and spent five weeks on the DL in May and June when another wall collision resulted in a case of bursitis in his left knee. He has also experienced dizziness and dealt with an ingrown toenail this season, according to The Post. Tyler Moore took his spot in left field on Saturday.
For more on Harper and the Nationals, visit Federal Baseball
Although the 20-year-old Harper is eager to play every day and battle through his various maladies, manager Davey Johnson is exercising caution with his young All-Star. Despite Harper’s many injuries, he is putting up an impressive season at the plate -- he’s hitting .273/.377/.504 with 19 home runs and 49 RBI in 102 games. He has missed 38 games this season, mostly due to the knee injury.
Harper's self-evaluation earlier this week was not encouraging for Nationals fans: "Ever since I hit the wall, pretty much every day I feel something different," Harper was quoted as saying. "Or something will feel better, and then something else hurts. It's pretty much just the left side of my body. That's what hurts me right now."
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