Harper gets cortisone, PRP injections

Associated Press

Bryce Harper received injections of cortisone and platelet-rich plasma in his injured left knee during yesterday's appointment with orthopedist James Andrews, who instructed the Nationals outfielder to rest one more week before he's re-evaluated.

After 24 hours of silence from the Nationals organization, leading to plenty of speculation around the baseball world about Harper's status, head athletic trainer Lee Kuntz told reporters in Colorado this evening what took place yesterday during Harper's visit to Andrews' clinic in Pensacola, Fla.

Kuntz told reporters Harper received both a cortisone shot and a PRP injection in the swollen bursa sac of his left knee, though he did not need to have the sac surgically removed. Andrews concurred with the Nationals' initial diagnosis of bursitis, a condition that has plagued the 20-year-old since he crashed into the

Rizzo on Harper: 'No worry about it'

Photo by USA Today

With his superstar outfielder set to visit Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion on his swollen left knee the following day, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo spoke calmly about his expectations for the diagnosis before Sunday's doubleheader. According to Rizzo, there is no reason to fear the worst regarding Bryce Harper and that getting a look by Andrews is just business as usual for an injury of his sort.

“There’s no worry about it,” Rizzo said. “It is our protocol that players get a second opinion on any part of the body that we feel is a disabled list type of injury. Guys get second opinions all the time here, and every guy that we put on the disabled list has gotten a second opinion.”

Rizzo compared Harper to other players on the team, pointing out that the process is no different.

“We send them to our team physician, he makes his diagnosis, we start the rehab, and we get a second opinion … that’s our protocol. This is no different than we [Strasburg] went out, when Detwiler went out, it’s the same thing.”

Read more >>

VIDEOS: The Baseball Show this week

On last night's The Baseball Show, Mark and Rob Carlin talked about Bryce Harper's upcoming visit with Dr. James Andrews. The star outfielder is getting a second opinion on his swollen left knee on Monday and his status moving forward is in question.

In addition to experiencing a setback with his knee, Harper also lost power at his home last night. The rain sweeping through the region that postponed Thursday night's game against the Mets, also shut the electricity off in Harper's building. It was an all around tough day for the 20-year-old.

Power is out in my building! This is just great! #NoAir
— Bryce Harper (@Bharper3407) June 7, 2013

Mark and Rob also discussed the return of Jayson Werth and how he can provide a spark for the Nationals' struggling offense.

Harper to see Dr. Andrews for knee

Photo by USA Today

[Updated 5:14 p.m.]

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper will seek a second opinion on his swollen left knee from Dr. James Andrews, manager Davey Johnson revealed on Thursday.

“The negative news is that Bryce did a little running in the water and his knee has been swelling up,” Johnson said. “He’s going to see Andrews on Monday. He’s probably not going to be available to come off when he’s supposed to come off.”

Harper was placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 1 (retroactive to May 27) with left knee bursitis. He was supposed to come off the DL on Tuesday.

"We haven’t been real successful with our treatment here," Johnson said. "He constantly gets treatment here, but we’ve got to get that inflammation out of there."

Harper hurt the knee originally in Atlanta on April 29 while crashing into the fence in right field. Matters then became much worse weeks later on May 13 at Dodger Stadium when Harper collided violently with the wall in right field. He then aggravated the injury several times while sliding and fouling off a pitch against the Phillies on May 26, the last game he appeared in.