When Phillies star Bryce Harper underwent Tommy John surgery in late November, he was expected to be able to return by around the All-Star break. Now, it appears he’s on the verge of beating those projections by a considerable margin.
Harper is set to be evaluated by a doctor in Los Angeles on Monday, and, if he’s cleared, is expected to be in Philadelphia’s lineup on Tuesday as the designated hitter against the Dodgers. If Harper gets the green light from his medical team, it would complete a remarkable recovery and represent a huge boost to a Phillies team that entered Sunday in fourth place in the National League East.
“Amazing,” Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said of Harper’s recovery, per Matt Gelb of The Athletic. “He’s absolutely amazing. He’s a great athlete. He works hard. He’s focused. He wants to get back. I mean, it’s amazing what he’s accomplished. We have that next step (with the doctor to clear him). But the progress he’s made is phenomenal.”
Harper recently pitched the idea of moving positions to first base, as his right elbow won’t be fully cleared to make throws from the outfield. The two-time MVP will likely see the majority of his playing time at DH whenever he makes his 2023 debut.
