The Philadelphia Phillies and superstar Bryce Harper are still waiting for a more definitive timeline on when he will be able to return to the team’s starting lineup as he continues to recover from offseason Tommy John surgery.
He is also not sure if he will be able to play in the outfield this season for the Phillies and could be relegated to full season designated hitter duty, via The Athletic’s Jayson Stark.
The initial timeline for Harper when he underwent the surgery in November was that he might be able to return as the team’s DH sometime around the All-Star break and potentially reclaim his spot in right field later in the year.
That timeline remains unsettled, and the Phillies hoped to learn more on Thursday when he underwent a physical.
Harper did not play in the field after April last year and was limited to only 99 games due to injury. He still hit .286 with an .877 OPS during the regular season and was a dominant force in the playoffs at the plate, helping lead the Phillies to a stunning World Series run, where they lost to the Houston Astros.
The good news for the Phillies and Harper is that they do have the DH option as their disposal to potentially get his bat in the lineup sooner. Harper, who used to be against the DH rule, admitted on Thursday he is glad that they have that option and that he is “all about it.”
Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos, Brandon Marsh and Darick Hall figure to fill the outfield spots in Harper’s absence, while veteran Josh Harrison could also be an option.
When Harper is fully healthy, he is one of the most impactful hitters in baseball, already a two-time MVP winner before at age 30. He most recently won the award in 2021 with the Phillies. If Philadelphia can remain in the National League East race until he returns, he would be a major addition to an already strong lineup.
