Overview
- Harper said the knee soreness began after a slide into second on July 11 and has returned since he resumed regular duty in right field following the Luis Arráez trade.
- He describes the pain as worse when stopping or braking but says running and hitting feel fine, and he expects outfield reps to help his body acclimate.
- Manager Don Mattingly has given Harper occasional days as the designated hitter and removed him late for defensive replacements to limit stress while keeping him in the lineup.
- The Phillies have not placed Harper on the injured list and still view him as able to play regularly if the knee remains manageable, with Mattingly saying a full season of starts is feasible.
- The shift back to right field was part of a larger defensive shuffle after the trade for Arráez, and the team recalled reliever Alex McFarlane as part of short-term roster moves to cover workload needs.