Phillies' Rob Thomson shares update on Bryce Harper

Phillies manager Rob Thomson shares update on Bryce Harper's status

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin M. Groe | Last updated Jun 19, 2025 4:25 PM ET

The Philadelphia Phillies have put together another strong season, currently sitting at 44-30 and trailing the New York Mets by one game in the highly competitive NL East standings.

As the All-Star break approaches, the Phillies' offensive core has shown consistent production, currently tied for sixth in runs scored per game at 4.7, with a team batting average of .257, good enough for second overall in MLB.

However, the lineup took a massive hit when Bryce Harper was placed on the 10-day injured list on June 7 due to right wrist inflammation, adding a layer of uncertainty to their offensive strength.

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3)Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Ahead of Wednesday's game against the Miami Marlins, Phillies manager Rob Thomson delivered an important update on the status of Harper and starter Aaron Nola.

Thomson announced that Harper’s range of motion and strength continue to improve, and he is getting close to throwing. He further noted that while signals point to sufficient recovery from Nola’s ankle sprain, so the veteran right-handed starter will now shift focus to his rib injury.

Back in Philadelphia, Bryce Harper's range of motion and strength continue to improve. He is "getting close" to throwing.

Rob Thomson also thinks the ankle sprain is behind Aaron Nola now, and he's focused on the rib injury.
— Lochlahn March (@lochlahn) June 18, 2025

Harper, an offensive force for Philadelphia since signing with them in the 2021 offseason, has seen a dip in his usual numbers during the regular season. He is batting .258 with nine home runs, 34 RBI and an OPS of .814 across 57 games this year, well below his career averages.

An eight-time All-Star and two-time National League MVP, Harper has consistently been among the elite hitters in baseball, and his injury progress is a positive sign for the Phillies.

As for Nola, his 2025 season has been challenging thus far, as the Phillies starter has registered a 6.16 ERA in 49.2 innings over nine starts, with a WHIP of 1.51. The surge in earned runs has been attributed partly to his recent rib injury, which now appears to be the focus of his recovery efforts.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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