Phillies remain cautiously optimistic Harper hits May return
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bryce Harper was in full Phillies uniform not lengthy after a pregame exercise the place the two-time NL MVP hit pitching, dove head-first into first base and fielded grounders at first.
His become the house uni didn’t go unnoticed.
“I got to do scoreboard stuff,” Harper mentioned.
Harper dashed off to movie a collection of vignettes to air on Philadelphia’s new scoreboard — and the Phillies slugger is getting nearer to seeing his identify up there within the beginning lineup.
But not fairly but.
As Harper ramps up what he can do in his rehabilitation from Tommy John surgical procedure, optimism has swelled that he can return in May if he’s cleared in his subsequent scheduled checkup early subsequent month. While Harper appears briskly forward of tempo since his November surgical procedure, nobody actually desires to hurry his return since one false transfer might trigger one other rupture.
“We’re very encouraged about Bryce’s advancement and his rehabilitation, It’s all been going very well but there’s still some very important final steps to take,” Harper’s agent, Scott Boras informed The Associated Press on Friday.
Notably, that features sliding. Harper carried out “modified” head-first sliding into first; he principally sort of turned and fell into the bottom fairly than take off on a mad sprint across the bases and check out sliding at full velocity.
“It’s all under control because we haven’t had the clearance yet to do the full head-first slide,” supervisor Rob Thomson mentioned.
Harper hit in opposition to minor leaguer Jeff Hoffman. The right-hander hit 96 to 99 mph with a pointy slider and threw in opposition to Harper with the pitch clock in use. Harper will face Phillies left-hander Ranger Suarez on Saturday.
“This is kind of spring training for him, as far as the pitch clock is concerned,” Thomson mentioned.
Thomson mentioned he wasn’t stunned at Harper’s tempo that ought to have him again with the Phillies nicely earlier than the All-Star break.
“He’s a quick healer, he always has been,” Thomson mentioned. “He works extremely hard. I think (it’s) the combination of the two, and he’s staying right on what the doctors and trainers are telling him. I think the combination of all that just kind of sped up the recovery process a little bit.”
Harper is beginning the fifth season of a $330 million, 13-year contract with the Phillies. He hasn’t performed proper discipline since final April 16. He had a platelet-rich plasma injection on his elbow in May and have become a full-time designated hitter to complete the season.
He will return because the DH, however continued his work at first base, the place the Phillies have used Alec Bohm and Kody Clemens with Rhys Hoskins out with a torn ACL in his left knee.
Thomson mentioned it was nonetheless too early to find out the place Harper would hit within the lineup. Bryson Stott led off Friday’s recreation in opposition to Colorado, adopted by Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos.
“Once we get there, then we’ll figure out where we go,” Thomson mentioned.
