Phillies welcome Bryce Harper back in deafening fashion

Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper made the most of his first at-bat since returning from a left thumb injury.

The Philadelphia Phillies have been without Bryce Harper for nearly two months after he was hit by a pitch that fractured his left thumb. Phillies fans were aware that his return was near after seeing the updates from his rehab assignment this past week. Then, interim manager Rob Thomson made it official — Harper would return on Friday, Aug. 26 in Philadelphia’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

As Harper stepped into the batter’s box at Citizens Bank Park, Phillies fans gave him a rousing, standing ovation.

Bryce Harper makes most of first at-bat in return from injury

Harper’s first at-bat had the chance to be impactful, as the bases were loaded with no outs recorded. On a 2-2 pitch thrown by Bryse Wilson, Harper recorded a single to right field, allowing Kyle Schwarber and Rhys Hoskins to score, giving Philadelphia an early 2-0 lead.

Back in late June, Harper was hit in the left hand by a pitch thrown by Blake Snell of the San Diego Padres. It was then revealed that his left thumb was fractured, and he underwent surgery.

This past week, Harper held his rehab assignment with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs. His brief stint was successful. He hit two home runs in one game, and recorded a walk-off double in another, both of which were against the Gwinnett Stripers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.

Harper is back, and at the perfect time, as the Phillies look to use the final stretch of the season to clinch a postseason berth for the first time since 2011.