The Philadelphia Phillies weren’t able to salvage a win against the hot Milwaukee Brewers on the weekend, and the saga of first baseman Bryce Harper’s injury continued after he got hit by a pitch on Tuesday night. Harper wasn’t wearing any sort of padding when he got smoked by a 95 mph fastball by Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider. It caused the star to miss the remaining five games of the home stand. X-rays came back negative, but bad bruising forced Harper to remain sidelined.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson has gotten to know Harper well since taking over the team mid-season in 2022 and knows the importance of keeping his best players on the field. Hindsight is 20/20, but Harper could have protected himself better, and Thomson shared that same thought about Harper wearing a guard on that lead elbow.

Rob Thomson wants Bryce Harper to wear an elbow guard

Thomson was interviewed on Foul Territory on Friday about Harper’s healing ability and whether he’d like to see Harper sporting a guard going forward when he steps into the batter’s box to avoid future injury.

“I’d like him to wear an elbow guard,” Thomson said. “You can’t force a guy to do it because I think one of the reasons why he didn’t wear it is he felt just, you know, maybe a little restricted by it. So, you know, we’ll see where we go once he gets back, swinging the bat.”

Harper has remained one of the more old-school hitter’s in the game, a main reason why Phillies fans of all generations have come to love him. He’s a player of feel most days. If something isn’t going the way he likes, he adjusts and tinkers until he gets it going again. He’ll do it for batting stances, pre-game routines and equipment. According to Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic, an elbow guard has never really been a must for Harper (subscription required).

“It’s really hard to find braces that kind of feel good, that don’t feel bulky or anything like that,” Harper said, per Varnes. “I haven’t really worn them my whole career. I have here and there just to feel it. I did during spring training this year because of this reason. I didn’t like the way it felt.”

Harper has finally started taking swings, as the swelling has receded enough, per Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia. Harper is expected to return to action for the first time on Tuesday in Toronto, so expect an array of guards and sleeves to reveal themselves as the Phillies get set for another road trip.

Thomson is right to feel, as most of the fan base feels, that any sort of guard is better than watching a sequel to what transpired Tuesday. Harper wore different versions of guards well after his Tommy John surgery in 2022, but has since left his arm bare. Harper has been hit a lot, but has had better luck recently when it comes to injuries, but the Phillies still want to protect their investment any way they can.