Nationals reinstate outfielder Bryce Harper

By Doug Miller

Nationals

September 26, 2017, 11:22am

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The Washington Nationals reinstated outfielder Bryce Harper from the 10-day disabled list on Tuesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Harper, 24, returns to the Nationals active roster after missing 41 games with a hyperextended left knee. The outfielder, who suffered the injury on Aug. 12 vs. San Francisco, ranked second in the National League in OPS (1.034), second in runs (92), fourth in on-base percentage (.419), fourth in batting average (.326), tied for fourth in home runs (29), and fourth in slugging percentage (.614) at the time of his injury.

The 2015 National League Most Valuable Player and a five-time All-Star, including starting in right field and batting third for the NL squad this past July in Miami, Harper has posted a .326 average with 29 home runs, 87 RBI, 27 doubles, 66 walks, and 92 runs scored in 106 games this season.

Harper has been particularly strong when batting with two strikes this season - hitting 14 of his 29 home runs in counts with two strikes, fifth-most in the Major Leagues. He also has 14 doubles, one triple, and 41 RBI in those instances. His 41 RBI also rank as the fifth-most with two strikes in MLB.

Harper has also hit two walk-off home runs this season, both against Philadelphia. Now with five career walk-off blasts, Harper's two 2017 game-ending strikes came on April 16 and May 13.