Report: Harper denied playing hurt in meeting with Nats' staff

Bryce Harper apparently told the Washington Nationals, in no uncertain terms, that he's not playing hurt.

In the latest twist surrounding the reigning National League MVP's health, sources told Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post that Harper, general manager Mike Rizzo, trainer Paul Lessard, and manager Dusty Baker met in the skipper's office Tuesday, after Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci reported that Harper has been playing through a shoulder injury.

According to Janes, Harper told Rizzo the report wasn't true, echoing what Baker told reporters on Tuesday. Lessard also reportedly told the GM and manager that he hadn't treated Harper for shoulder injuries since August, when a neck issue forced the 23-year-old from the field for five games.

Harper reportedly told Nationals' brass that he's unsure who gave Verducci the information for his initial report.

"Bryce said it didn’t come from him. Nobody really knows where it comes from because it's not on the injury report," Baker told Janes on Wednesday. "The trainer said no."

Related: Baker denies report about Harper's ailing shoulder

Baker strongly refuted Verducci's story when it was first reported Tuesday, calling it "inaccurate." Rizzo doubled down on his manager's words during a radio interview Wednesday afternoon.

"We're saying the same thing that we said for the last month, that he's healthy," Rizzo told the Spots Junkies, according to Peter Hailey of CSN Mid-Atlantic. "And he is. And we're moving on with it."

Harper has struggled to follow up his spectacular MVP campaign of 2015, hitting just .240/.374/.439 with 24 home runs, 22 doubles, and 21 stolen bases over 141 games. Despite a drop in production, the former first overall pick continues to lead baseball with 106 walks, while his strikeout rate has been cut from 20 percent in 2015 to 18 percent this year.