Philadelphia Phillies fans heartbroken by report that Bryce Harper will undego UCL surgery, no timetable for return

The Philadelphia Phillies may be without superstar Bryce Harper for part of the 2023 season. It is being reported that Harper will undergo UCL surgery next Wednesday, but it is unclear if it will be Tommy John surgery or not.

Given the unclear nature of the surgery, there's no timetable for Bryce Harper's return. Harper was dealing with extreme discomfort in his right elbow, which caused him to miss some time and was the reason he was used strictly as a DH.

Doctors will assess the damage soon and make a decision from there. This injury is usually corrected through Tommy John surgery, which baseball pitchers are famous for. If the doctors determine that that is the best route to go, Harper will likely miss the beginning of the season.

Philadelphia Phillies fans are, unsurprisingly, heartbroken for Bryce Harper. Many fans were expecting him to require surgery in the off-season, but it's still a sad situation for them.

Harper pushed his pain aside for the majority of the season and played hard in every game, and the fans fully appreciate Harper's commitment to the team.

"Just fell to my knees. We need [Trea] even more now," one fan said.

"I mean a terrific start to next season," said another.

Philadelphia Phillies fans wouldn't want to be without Harper for any part of the 2023 season. He was a big reason why they reached the World Series, so the fans are naturally hoping the superstar doesn't need Tommy John surgery.

That said, Tommy John surgery wouldn't be the worst for him. Harper not a pitcher; he wouldn't need a full season to rehabilitate. He could remain in the DH role until his arm is 100% healthy.

It wouldn't be the perfect scenario, as Philadelphia is hampered by potential designated hitters, but they'd rather have Harper in the lineup than not.

Losing Bryce Harper for any amount of time next year will hurt the Philadelphia Phillies

World Series - Houston Astros v Philadelphia Phillies - Game 5

Bryce Harper dealt with elbow discomfort and a broken thumb and still put up insane numbers. Prior to his thumb injury, he was hitting .318 with 15 home runs. After his thumb injury, he still hit .286 with 18 home runs.

It's hard to imagine the numbers he would have produced if he had been fully healthy in 2022.

If Bryce Harper requires Tommy John, he'll likely miss a couple of months of the season. He could return as the DH by midseason, but there is a chance the team would have suffered too much damage by then.