Inside The Phillies

Bryce Harper Returns to Phillies Lineup, Muñoz Optioned

The Philadelphia Phillies welcome back Bryce Harper, while Yairo Muñoz is optioned to make room.

Kade Kistner

Bryce Harper Returns to Phillies Lineup, Muñoz Optioned
Bryce Harper Returns to Phillies Lineup, Muñoz Optioned /
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The Philadelphia Phillies will welcome Bryce Harper, the reigning NL MVP, back to the lineup on Friday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Harper returns to Major League action after suffering a broken finger from a Blake Snell pitch on June 25. He crushed his rehab assignment at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, going 5-for-8 with two home runs and one walk-off win. He's ready.

To make room, Yairo Muñoz was optioned and Símon Muzziotti was moved to the 60-day injured list.

Harper will reportedly hit in the cleanup spot on Friday as he is welcomed home to Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies currently sit at 70-55 and 2.5 games ahead of the San Diego Padres for the second MLB Wild Card spot. Harper's presence will be a huge boost to Philadelphia as they pursue a postseason berth for the first time in 11 seasons.

Harper was slashing .318/.385/.599 prior to his injury, and if his rehab assignment performance was any indication, he should be ready to pick up right where he left off. 

More From SI's Inside The Phillies:

  1. How Mike Trout Will Join the Phillies
  2. Why You Should Root for the Philadelphia Phillies to Lose a Few Games
  3. Have the Philadelphia Phillies Found Their Centerfielder of the Future?
  4. Could The Phillies Soon Be Playing in Wawa Park?
  5. 18-Year-Old Phillies Prospect is Making History
  6. How did Philadelphia end up with Citizens Bank Park?
  7. How the Phillie Phanatic Came to be America's Favorite Sports Mascot
  8. This Unlikely Draft Pick Could be the Final Piece in the Phillies Next Blockbuster Trade
  9. Picking the Phillies' All-Time Single Season Lineup
  10. Drawing Comparisons to Harper, Phillies Prospect Wilson is Heating Up

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Kade Kistner
KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Phillies. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl.  During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated.  Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.

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