By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor
You can hear all of Spectrum Field gasp out of concern on Friday in the bottom of the sixth, when Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Trent Thornton hit Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper on the right ankle by a pitch.
Harper immediately went down in pain, and took a considerable amount of time before he finally limped off the field. Initial X-rays on Harper's right foot returned negative, with Manager Gabe Kapler calling it a "right foot contusion" with “no immediate cause for concern.”
Phillies fans surely are displeased with Thornton, who not only shortened Harper's fourth spring appearance, but could have caused considerable long-term damage with the wild pitch.
Gabe Kapler says the Phillies do NOT have reason for a major concern after Bryce Harper is drilled by a pitch
"we are confident Bryce is going to be alright… not overly concerned right now"
📸via @phillies @6abc #BryceHarper #Phillies pic.twitter.com/VZrh3UQPcT
— Jeff Skversky 6abc (@JeffSkversky) March 15, 2019
Fans were not shy to voice their displeasure to the Blue Jays right-hander, directly on social media.
That was intentional. You didn’t even walk over and see if he was okay you just looked at him and walked a different direction. If you’re gonna throw at someone aim for there waist not there damn ankle you idiot
— Will Stevenson (@wstevenson82) March 15, 2019
@Trent_Thornton1 learn how to throw a fast ball
— Michael Mattes (@mattes_michael) March 15, 2019
How about throwing at star players! Not how your parents raised you, Trent!
— Evan Riper (@Evan_Riper) March 15, 2019
@Trent_Thornton1 sure looked intentionally to me. Philly fans dont forget!
— Melanie Hummel (@Mel_Hummel) March 15, 2019
@Trent_Thornton1 what you did was totally intentional. Sad because nobody knew who you were, but now your known for purposely hitting @bryceharper3 because you can’t stop him any other way. #pathetic
— Mike Yellak (@MikeYellak) March 15, 2019
@Trent_Thornton1 you messed with Philly today! You gonna get cut
— Silvio (@SilvioJD22) March 15, 2019
The entire city of Philadelphia is going to show up to this pitcher’s door with pitchforks and torches pic.twitter.com/GtxpntDstB
— Barstool Sports (@barstooltweetss) March 15, 2019
imagine throwing at someone in a meaningless spring training game
— ⚾️ (@louisvoit) March 15, 2019
96 mph aimed at his legs. If you can’t control your fastball you shouldn’t be a pro pitcher
— AngryEaglesFan (@AngryEaglesYT) March 15, 2019
@Trent_Thornton1 I hope you get sent back down to the minors for that stunt you pulled trying to take Bryce Harper out.
— Super Bowl 52 Champions. (@GordonsWord) March 15, 2019
Thornton, 25, is a Pittsburgh native that was dealt from the Houston Astros to Toronto in November in exchange for shortstop Aledmys Diaz. Last season at Triple-A Fresno, Thornton made 24 appearances and 22 starts, posting a 9-8 record, 4.42 ERA, and 122-31 strikeout-to-walk ratio spanning 124 1/3 innings.
Harper was slated to play Saturday and Sunday, but will instead be sent for more comprehensive tests, notes Philly.com's Marcus Hayes. With Opening Day less than two weeks away, even the slightest injury could sideline the Phillies star to start the 2019 season.