Harper’s wrist has healed well; he officially rejoins the Phillies' lineup today.

July is a crucial month for Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies.

The two-time NL MVP was taken off the injured list before today’s home opener against the Padres, which ended in a 4-0 victory for the Phillies. This was Harper’s first game since he was sidelined on June 6 with inflammation in his right wrist. In his return to the starting lineup, he recorded no hits in two at-bats but earned a walk. If he can stay healthy and regain form, he will boost the team’s struggling and inconsistent offense.

"My wrist feels good," Harper said. "Much better than it was three to four weeks ago. How I feel day to day will be key... The pain has stabilized in recent days, and I hope it stays that way."

To make room for Harper on the 26-man roster, utility player Buddy Kennedy was designated for assignment.

Before the game, the Phillies were leading the NL East and ranked fourth in Major League Baseball. The team plans to use the final weeks before the July 31 trade deadline to evaluate needs and potential moves for upgrading the 26-man roster.

Harper’s return is expected to improve the offense — the team scored only one run in a three-game series at Houston last week and just three runs in two games over the weekend in Atlanta (after scoring 13 runs in a single game on Saturday). Before his injury, Harper was hitting .258/.368/.446 with 9 home runs, 34 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.814.

"Our lineup depth will improve significantly," head coach Rob Thomason emphasized. "He combines plate discipline with power, which will strengthen our offensive system."

Harper played last year through the same wrist inflammation, with discomfort lasting into the offseason. When asked about the chance of recurrence, he said, "I just focus on playing. If it hurts, I’ll know. Right now, I’m not worried at all."

The Phillies have no Friday games scheduled over the next six weeks, giving Harper regular rest days. "That will really help with recovery," he added.