A shockwave was sent through Major League Baseball on Friday afternoon during Spring Training, when young Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Trent Thornton hit Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper in the right ankle with a 96 mph fastball in the bottom of the sixth inning.
👀 Bryce Harper @Phillies left today's game after being hit in his right ankle from a pitch by Trent Thornton from the @BlueJays
Thoughts on this ? pic.twitter.com/iGS1aKaiV2
— Official Bookmaker (@bookmaker_eu) March 15, 2019
The 25-year-old Thornton was a fifth-round draft pick by the Houston Astros back in 2015 following a stellar three-year college career at UNC. He has spent the majority of the last two years playing at the AAA level for the Fresno Grizzlies, but was traded to the Blue Jays’ organization in November of last year.
Harper, meanwhile, is a former No. 1 overall draft pick from 2011 who was a six-time All-Star in seven seasons with the Washington Nationals–joining the major leagues at the ripe old age of 19. He was also the 2015 National League MVP in Washington.
The Las Vegas native made news recently for signing a 13-year, $330 million contract with Philadelphia in the offseason, the largest free agent contract in terms of total value in the history of North American sports.
Upon getting hit by Thornton’s pitch on Friday, Harper fell to the ground in pain before eventually leaving the game under his own power. Phillies’ manager Gabe Kapler said the all-star suffered a foot contusion.
Fans of Harper and the Phillies on Twitter were none too pleased with Thornton, and sent him a wide array of threats and hate messages after the incident.
If Trent Thornton makes an MLB roster I need to be at a game where he plays so I can take care business myself
— tim (@Wingerrss) March 15, 2019
Thornton spoke with reporters after the game and defended himself, saying it was completely unintentional.
Thornton after hitting Harper: "I was amped up. It was the first time I've ever faced him. I wanted my stuff to be good. I threw a good curveball that he swung through. I was trying to set that up — go inside, and like I said, unfortunately it got away from me."
— Arash Madani (@ArashMadani) March 15, 2019
Photo via UNC Athletics
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