Bryce Harper is his own worst enemy when it comes to his health.
Harper was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a knee injury on Saturday. His DL stint begins almost three weeks after he injured his knee while colliding with the outfield wall in Los Angeles, and he thinks he should have gone on the disabled even before that.
“I think after I hit the wall here, I think I should have went on the DL, just try to get better and came back 15 days later,” Harper said, according to CSNWashington.com.
Harper was reportedly referring to an April 29 encounter he had with the right-field fence at Turner Field. The 20-year-old injured his side while trying to catch Tim Hudson‘s home run, which hit off the end of Harper’s glove. Harper didn’t miss any time following that play, as his competitive nature took over.
“With a lot of guys out, I wanted to stay in the lineup the way I was swinging it, Harper reportedly said. “Of course, I want to play every day. It’s something that, maybe I’ll learn more in my career to take off 15 days instead of lose the month or whatever it is.”
Harper’s collision with the wall at Dodger Stadium on May 13 was the blow that really left him shaken up. He injured his body in several areas, including his knee, which he reaggravated a week ago while sliding. Finally, Harper was placed on the disabled list, and he hopes that will help all around.
“It lets everything heal: my hand, my wrist, my side, everything,” he reportedly said. “So that’s good. Hopefully I’ll come back and I’ll be full-strength and I’ll get going, hopefully against Colorado.”
As far as his knee? Well, there’s still some healing to do there.
“I feel the same as I did the other day,” Harper reportedly said. “It’s still swollen and crappy. Just trying to get treatment and see if the swelling will go down.”
Harper is eligible to come off the disabled list on June 11.
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