Phillies won’t put Harper on 60-day IL, Braves’ Soroka set to make spring debut
The Philadelphia Phillies are leaving open the likelihood for Bryce Harper to return to their lineup a lot before the All-Star break, however that doesn’t essentially imply a quicker-than-expected return for the slugger from reconstructive proper elbow surgical procedure.
While Harper will start the season on the injured listing, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski stated Tuesday that the two-time National League MVP is not going to, for now, be positioned on the longer 60-day IL that will imply he couldn’t be activated earlier than the tip of May.
“I’m not setting any dates, however I’m simply retaining that choice open quite than closing an choice,” Dombrowski stated from the workforce’s spring coaching facility in Clearwater, Florida.
After Harper had Tommy John surgical procedure in November, the National League champions stated they anticipated him again within the lineup as their designated hitter by the All-Star break in July. The slugger indicated the identical when he bought to camp final month, including that they have been going to be good about his restoration and rehab.
Dombrowski stated the timetable hasn’t actually modified, and that the Phillies may nonetheless use the 60-day IL if they should open a spot on the 40-man roster and know then Harper wouldn’t be again earlier than the tip of May.
“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,” Dombrowski stated.
Going into the fifth season of a $330 million, 13-year contract with the Phillies, Harper hasn’t performed proper subject 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, serving to lead the Phillies to their first World Series look since 2009.
Dombrowski stated Harper, who for now continues to be hitting mushy toss within the batting cages each different day, is feeling nice and has no ache.
“All I’ve said, and all I’ll continue to say, it’ll be before the All-Star break is our hope,” Dombrowski stated. “But I’m also going to keep the option open that we’ll see what happens.”
SORE CUETO
The Miami Marlins are being cautious with veteran right-hander Johnny Cueto, who’s coping with arm soreness simply over every week earlier than the beginning of the common season.
First-year supervisor Skip Schumaker didn’t appear involved Tuesday when explaining why Cueto didn’t do his scheduled work on a again subject the day past. Cueto had been set to throw about 70 pitches whereas simulating 4 or 5 innings.
“This is a time where there’s no reason to push through this general soreness,” Schumaker stated. “If he needs another extra day, you give people extra days and that’s the value of spring training. You’re allowed to do that.”
Cueto, again in camp with the Marlins after making a begin for the Dominican Republic within the World Baseball Classic, is scheduled for a bullpen session Wednesday. If all goes effectively, he may pitch in a recreation for the Marlins on Friday.
The 37-year-old Cueto goes into his sixteenth huge league season. He pitched final yr for the Chicago White Sox earlier than his take care of the Marlins that can pay him $6 million this season and features a $10.5 million workforce choice for 2024 with a $2.5 million buyout.
Cueto allowed 11 runs over 3 2/3 innings in his two spring begins for the Marlins earlier than going to the WBC, the place he allowed three runs over two innings in his lone begin.
STEP FOR SOROKA
Michael Soroka is ready to make his Grapefruit League debut for the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday, although the 25-year-old right-hander received’t be able to be of their rotation at the beginning of the season.
Soroka hasn’t pitched within the majors since tearing his proper Achilles in August 2020 and having three totally different surgical procedures. He then had hamstring tightness at the beginning of spring coaching.
After being an All-Star as a rookie in 2019, when he was 13-4 with a 2.68 ERA in 29 begins, Soroka tore his proper Achilles three begins into the pandemic-impacted 2020 season. He tore that Achilles once more the next summer season, then was sidelined till throwing in six minor league video games final yr.
.acf-block-preview .br-related-links-wrapper {
show: grid;
grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr);
hole: 20px;
}
.acf-block-preview .br-related-links-wrapper a {
pointer-events: none;
cursor: default;
text-decoration: none;
shade: black;
}
