WATCH: Bryce Harper exits Blue Jays game after taking 93mph fastball to elbow from Bowden Francis
Bryce Harper was hit on his left elbow by Bowden Francis in the first inning and exited before the third inning on Wednesday in the Philadelphia Phillies' 4-2 win at the Toronto Blue Jays. The first baseman winced in pain after Francis' fastball struck the two-time NL MVP.
The ball's trajectory was well out of the strike zone, and Harper did his best to avoid it. Edmundo Sosa replaced him in the third.
Ironically, the incident happened seconds after the Phillies broadcast showed highlights of Harper having issues finishing his swing in the ninth inning of Tuesday night's 10-9 win.
With the playoffs nearing and the Phillies having ambitious plans, any injury to their star could have adverse effects.
Harper had said that he has had issues with his right elbow and wrist, which many attribute to him not hitting a homer since Aug. 9. Despite his lack of power, Harper has been instrumental in the Phillies' recent victories, especially the walk-off single against the Houston Astros with Joel Embiid in attendance, a 3-2 win in 10 innings on Aug. 26. The Phillies have won nine of their past 11 games.
Phillies analyst snubs Bryce Harper for Trea Turner
The Phillies, like the Yankees and Dodgers, are among baseball's super teams. With Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Trea Turner, the Phillies have one of the game's best offensive trios. The team will be banking on the superstars to show up as the playoffs near.
Schwarber did that in the first game of the two-game series with three homers in a 10-9 comeback win over the Blue Jays on Tuesday.
When asked about a star who would be important for the team in the last month of the regular season on the "Blair and Barker" podcast, Phillies analyst Ben Davis snubbed Harper for Turner.
"Initially, you always want to go with Harper, your superstar, but Trea Turner; he's just got a different way about him," Davis said (Timestamp: 56:39). "Talk about a guy that can beat you in so many different ways. This is a guy who can beat you with average, he can beat you with power, he can steal bases — he's very dynamic in that aspect.
"So, I'm going to say Trea Turner."
Davis also praised Nick Castellanos. Although he thinks Castellanos has a flair for the dramatic, Davis believes the two-time All-Star has been the Phillies' most consistent offensive star.