Phillies Insider Shares Positive Bryce Harper Update

The Philadelphia Phillies are in the middle of a postseason push, as they are third in the NL East division with a 48-41 record.

They have done much of that heavy lifting without Bryce Harper, their best player, because he missed several weeks to start the year while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.

He already returned, but his power hasn’t been the same and he is slugging .400.

Still, he has a .386 on-base percentage and has been great when on the field.

The organization had a scare with him prior to the All-Star break, though.

The two-time MVP award winner missed the final game before the break after being hit on his surgically repaired elbow by a pitch.

There is good news, though: the tests didn’t show anything, and he is already back in the lineup for the first game of the second half.

“Bryce Harper is back in the lineup as DH. He’s ‘pretty close’ to playing first base, Rob Thomson said. Might be this weekend. Seranthony Domínguez threw to hitters in a live BP session. Rhys Hoskins has a mustache,” Phillies insider Matt Gelb tweeted.

Bryce Harper is back in the lineup as DH. He’s “pretty close” to playing first base, Rob Thomson said. Might be this weekend. Seranthony Domínguez threw to hitters in a live BP session. Rhys Hoskins has a mustache.

— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) July 14, 2023

That’s a pretty complete report, including Hoskins’ facial hair decisions.

But back to Harper: he could return to full first base duties at some point on Saturday or Sunday, turning the page on the unfortunate hit-by-pitch on his elbow.

If the Phillies are going to make some noise again this year, however, they need Harper to regain his power stroke.

He has just three homers in 246 plate appearances.

NEXT: 
Phillies Pitching Has Been On Another Level Since June