Harper won’t go on 60-day IL, leaves door open for early return
CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Phillies are maintaining Bryce Harper’s choices open.
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski stated Tuesday that Harper is not going to open the season on the 60-day injured checklist, which supplies the slugger the chance to return to the Phillies’ lineup earlier than the tip of May. Harper had Tommy John surgical procedure in November, and the Phillies stated then that he could possibly be again by the All-Star break in July.
Sources on the time informed MLB.com that Harper could possibly be again in June.
Dombrowski’s revelation Tuesday permits the chance that he could possibly be again in May.
“If I had no, no hope, I would put him on the 60-day,” Dombrowski stated. “I’m not setting any dates, but I’m just keeping that option open rather than closing an option.”
If the Phillies positioned Harper on the 60-day IL to start out the season, he couldn’t be activated till May 29 on the earliest. It can be regrettable to try this, then have Harper’s restoration speed up to the purpose that he believes he is able to play earlier than the tip of May.
If the Phillies discover themselves in a scenario within the first couple months of the season after they want a 40-man roster spot they usually know Harper is not going to be again earlier than May 29, they will at all times retroactively place him on the 60-day IL.
“If he’s not on [the 60-day IL] and then on April 20 — or pick a date that you want — you think you need a roster spot and you know he’s not coming back, then you can always put him back [on the 60-day IL] retroactive to the day he first went on the IL,” Dombrowski stated. “So it’s really not a great revelation other than to just say the reality is, I’m going to just keep our options open, because who knows what happens?”
Every report up to now concerning Harper’s restoration has been constructive. Harper is presently hitting delicate toss each different day within the batting cages at BayCare Ballpark. His subsequent development is hitting delicate toss on consecutive days.
Harper stated just lately that he might start hitting delicate toss on consecutive days early subsequent month. But who is aware of? Maybe that occurs earlier than camp breaks subsequent Tuesday.
“They’re working a specific program,” Dombrowski stated. “All of a sudden, they’ll say, ‘We’re ready for the next step.’ I can’t tell you when they might walk into my office and say we’re ready to go back to back. I don’t have an exact date on that. … He’s feeling great. He has no pain. He continues to work hard. But it’s just that situation, I have no idea. All I’ve said, and all I’ll continue to say, it’ll be before the All-Star break is our hope. But I’m also going to keep the option open that we’ll see what happens. But I have no idea what’s going to happen. But I don’t want to close that option. Because if I put him on [the 60-day IL], it’s closed.”
