Bryce Harper Injures Hamstring; Likely Done for Season
By Editorial Staff
After hitting the disabled list with a strained right hamstring Friday, it looks like Bryce Harper’s season could be over. The Washing Nationals have announced that there’s a good chance Harper won’t return to action this year while recovering from the injury.
"“I’m not going to worry a whole lot about Bryce Harper down there with a slight pulled hammy,” Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. “It’s the end of the season. He probably won’t play the rest of the year. You are not taking a chance aggravating it where it becomes a more serious injury.”"
Harper hurt himself during the 8th inning of Thursday night’s game. While trying to go from first to third, Harper pulled up and had to be assisted off the field. He was placed on the 7 day DL yesterday, but with only a few weeks left in the Minor League season it’s likely he’s done for 2011.
In his first year as a professional, Harper has shown why many considered him the Major’s top prospect entering the season.
Starting at the Single-A level as an 18 year old, Harper raked to the tune of .318/.423/.554 with 14 home runs and 17 doubles in 72 games.
His performance was rewarded with a promotion to Double-A. Though his numbers weren’t quite as impressive, Harper certainly held his own as the youngest player in the Eastern League.
If this is the end of Harper’s 2011 season, he would have put up a combined line of .297/.392/.501 between the two levels with 43 extra base hits, 58 RBI’s, 63 runs scored and 26 stolen bases over his 109 games.
The injury curtails Harper’s hopes of receiving a September call up, but by showing well in his short stretch at Double-A, Harper seems poised to make his Major League debut in 2012.
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