Bryce Harper Injury: What Does Elbow Surgery Mean for Phillies Star in 2023?

Phillies' star slugger Bryce Harper is reportedly scheduled to undergo right elbow surgery next Wednesday to repair the torn UCL that he played through last season.

Harper will undergo Tommy John surgery and will be once again limited to a DH role in 2023, according to the Pro Baseball Docs. 

Much like he was during the Phillies' rollercoaster 2022 season, Harper will not be able to play in the outfield next season as his UCL heals with a hope of being able to throw again in 2024.

Philadelphia President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombroswki said that he was uncertain what type of procedure Harper would undergo but the Docs assert that it will be a Tommy John surgery.

The Dodgers expressed a similar uncertainty during the summer when ace Walker Buehler went to Dr. Neal ElAttrache – Harper's reported surgeon – with recurring elbow soreness and the 26-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery.

The Phillies' postseason prince appeared to suffer the torn right UCL on April 11 and he moved to the everyday DH position later that month. The NLCS MVP missed minimal time with the elbow injury but was sidelined for two months because of a fractured right index finger.

Harper hit .286 with 18 home runs, 28 doubles, and 65 RBI in 99 regular season games and added six bombs, seven doubles, and 13 RBI on a 1.160 OPS in the playoffs.