Harper to remain DH as elbow pain lingers

PHILADELPHIA -- For now, Bryce Harper is the Phillies’ full-time designated hitter.

An MRI exam on Thursday revealed a mild strain in the flexor tendon in his right elbow, which is his throwing arm. Harper said he plans to test the elbow on Tuesday, but in the meantime he will DH. He said he feels no discomfort when he is hitting.

“I’ll take my time, but I also know I want to get back out there and play right field,” Harper said on Friday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.

Harper injured the elbow making a throw to home plate on April 11. He grabbed his elbow after he threw, but the Phillies said after the game that he was OK. Harper played in right field last weekend in Miami, but he irritated the elbow after making a few more throws.

Harper tested the elbow in the batting cage at Coors Field on Tuesday. He said he still felt something.

Asked if he is concerned this could linger throughout the season, Harper said, “I’m not sure. I’ve never dealt with arm pain or anything like that. Even when I was younger or anything. So I really don’t know. What they’ve been saying to me is just more, 'We’ll take it day by day and see how you feel. And then once you feel like you can throw, we’ll test it out and go from there.'”

Harper said no anti-inflammatory injections are scheduled.

“No,” he said. “We’re not there.”