Harper scare: Pitch to the foot

New Phillies star Bryce Harper bruised his right foot when he was hit by a pitch during a 3-2 win over the Blue Jays on Friday in Clearwater, Florida, but manager Gabe Kapler said the team wasn’t overly worried.

Initial X-rays were negative, the team said. Harper left the park for more detailed X-rays.

Many in the crowd at Spectrum Field gasped when Harper was struck by a 96 mph fastball from Blue Jays rookie Trent Thornton in the sixth inning. The slugging outfielder went down to the dirt, clutched his ankle and stayed on the ground for a few moments.

He was checked by a trainer, limped toward the dugout with assistance and soon hobbled toward the clubhouse. Harper, recently signed to a record 13-year, $330 million contract, is 0-for-5 in 10 plate appearances this spring.

♦ Astros manager A.J. Hinch called umpire Angel Hernandez “unprofessional” and “arrogant” after being ejected for arguing balls and strikes one pitch into the bottom of the first inning of a splitsquad game against the Cardinals. “The fact that he wanted to throw me out in a spring-training game is pretty ridiculous,” Hinch said.

♦ Yankees ace Luis Severino, once scheduled to start on Opening Day, will miss all of April because of inflammation in his right shoulder.