May 27, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider (99) walks off the field after the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Chalk up another chapter completed in the never-ending soap opera between Spencer Strider and Philadelphia.
In only his ninth pitch of the game, and in just his second start after missing time with a hamstring injury, Strider unleashed a 95 MPH fastball that drilled Bryce Harper on his surgically repaired right elbow.
Harper dropped to his knees in pain. After a consultation with both Phillies manager Rob Thomson and trainer Joe Rauch, Harper was removed from the game.
The Phillies later announced that X-rays were negative and Harper had an elbow contusion. Which, is better than X-rays showing damage to the elbow.
Harper will be re-evaluated on Wednesday. He wasn't available to speak after the game, a 2-0 Phillies win over their division rival, but Thomson said he didn't feel the pitch was intentional.
Rob Thomson discusses Bryce Harper’s status
🎥: @TimKellySports pic.twitter.com/XppzES1rPA
And Strider confirmed that.
"I didn't hear (that he's O.K.) so that's certainly great news," Strider said. "I certainly was not trying to hit him. In the moment, I just assumed he had an (elbow) guard on and I was just pissed that I hit him. Then I saw him in pain, so that was tough. I'm definitely relieved that he's O.K.
"He's one of the best players this century and he needs to be on the field. It's best for the game and it's good for us. It's good to compete against him."
Strider admitted it's uncomfortable to see a player injured as a result of one of his pitches.
"No disrespect to him, but you kind of have to stay focused on what you're trying to do in that moment," he said. "It's easy to unravel. (But) I'm not a complete sociopath, so I have some empathy. I do feel bad for him. To see a person in pain that I caused, but I've still got a job to do. ... I hope he knows that it's nothing personal and not intentional and I'm glad that he's O.K."
This is the errant Spencer Strider pitch that knocked Bryce Harper out of the game.
(Via @TalkinBaseball_)
pic.twitter.com/6kRKCYpf4x
Phillies fans, though, don't want to hear that. Many of the 40,000-plus in attendance let Strider know it, too, by booing the hell out of him from that point forward.
He was greeted with an especially lusty sendoff of nastiness from the crowd when he was pulled from the game in the fifth inning, at or near his pitch limit of 90 pitches, as he walked off the mound.
Strider, though, takes that in, well, in stride.
"I love pitching here," Strider said. "I mean, where else do they chant your name and ask you how your family's doing? They seem very interested in my well being and I appreciate that. I feel like it's a home ballpark. I've pitched here so many times. I enjoy it."
Snark aside, Strider said that playing in Philadelphia is actually something cool that he doesn't get in every stop on the Major League travel itinerary.
"It's nice to see the stadium full and people excited for baseball," he said. "Playing a good team is always great. It's a challenge and that's what you want. I don't think anybody wants to play in an empty ballpark against an easy opponent. So, I'm grateful for the opportunity to pitch here and I hope I keep getting that opportunity."
The Braves are back in town for four games on Labor Day weekend (Aug. 28-31), so get your tickets now.
