Aug 12, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) gets helped off the field by hitting coach Rick Schu (39) and trainer Paul Lessard after suffering an apparent injury against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Nationals Park. Photo Credit: Michael Owens-USA TODAY Sports
The news is not as bad as it looked initially for Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper after he was injured in the bottom of the first inning Saturday night against the San Francisco Giants.
The right fielder and 2015 National League MVP has a bone bruise in his left knee but no ligament damage, general manager Mike Rizzo said at Nationals Park on Sunday morning. Harper is out indefinitely, but the Nationals hope he can return at some point this season.
Harper collapsed in a heap after he went flying through the air when his spike slipped on a wet first base bag while trying to beat out a groundball.
Harper was placed on the 10-day disabled list, and outfielder Michael A. Taylor was recalled from his minor league rehab assignment with the Double-A Harrisburg. Taylor had been sidelined due to a right oblique strain.
–The San Diego Padres extended the contract of manager Andy Green for three years through the 2021 season.
Green, 40, is finishing his second year at the helm.
The Padres, made up of mostly young players, are 51-65 this season and 119-159 during Green’s tenure.
–Giancarlo Stanton hit his 42nd home run of the season, tying a Marlins franchise record, and his 250th career homer during Miami’s 5-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
Stanton, who leads the majors in homers, now shares the Marlins’ single-season record with Gary Sheffield, who set the mark in 1996.
Stanton moved ahead of Mickey Mantle into 16th place in major league history for the most homers in a player’s first eight years.
–The Los Angeles Dodgers reinstated right-hander Chris Hatcher from the 10-day disabled list after he missed 42 games due to a thoracic inflammation.
Hatcher, 32, was sidelined since late June. He last pitched on Wednesday in a rehab appearance for Triple-A Oklahoma City, allowing just one hit and striking out one in an inning of relief.
Hatcher is 0-1 with a 4.66 ERA over 36 2/3 innings in 26 relief appearances for the Dodgers, with 43 strikeouts against 12 walks.
In a corresponding move, the Dodgers optioned catcher/infielder Kyle Farmer to Triple-A.
