Home Harper undergoes MRI: Slumping Nats slugger on the mend?
Baseball

Harper undergoes MRI: Slumping Nats slugger on the mend?

Chris Graham

harperSlumping Washington Nationals slugger Bryce Harper underwent an MRI on Saturday to try to get to the root of a lingering stiff neck that has kept him out of the lineup for five games.

Harper, the 2015 National League MVP, is hitting a career-worst .233/.374/.438 with 20 homers and 57 RBI. Harper was named the NL Player of the Month in April, but since April 27 has hit just .212/.361/.349 with 11 home runs and 32 RBI in 362 plate appearances.

“Bryce is day-to-day,” general manager Mike Rizzo said. “We haven’t discussed disabled list with him today. He did have an MRI today, and it was clean, so that’s good news. He feels good about it.

“He’s got a stiff neck that’s lingered on for five or six days. Hopefully, that’s behind us now.”

Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham, the king of "fringe media," a zero-time Virginia Sportswriter of the Year, and a member of zero Halls of Fame, is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, or subscribe to his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].