Bryce Harper Is Back
Bryce Harper’s visit with Dr. Neal ElAttrache must have gone well.
Harper has been cleared and he will be in the Philadelphia Phillies’ lineup Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to multiple reports.
Wow.
Harper’s return would come 160 days after Tommy John surgery on Nov. 23 performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
Following the visit for his surgically repaired elbow, Harper posted photos of himself on Instagram stating, “Aye Pham. You ready?”
The Phillies are ready.
The fans are ready.
Harper’s return would be the fastest from Tommy John surgery.
Initial reports had Harper coming back mid-summer, but he will have shattered those estimates if he suits up Tuesday.
Harper has been fielding ground balls at first base, taking live batting practice and running the bases with feet-first slides.
The Phillies have repeatedly said that Harper would not be sent out on a rehab assignment.
Harper would be inserted as the designated hitter as he’s unlikely to be cleared for the infield or outfield anytime soon.
But simply having Harper in the lineup would be a major confidence boost.
“He’s pretty geeked up about getting out there and playing,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “He’s itching.”
The Phillies took two of three from the Houston Astros and have started to resembled the team which advanced to the World Series last season.
Adding Harper now will help immensely.
“Amazing,” Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said. “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. But the progress he’s made is phenomenal.”
Harper played with a partially torn UCL and still nearly led the Phillies to a World Series title.
Since joining the Phillies, Harper has blasted 101 home runs with 296 RBI in four regular seasons.
The statistics don’t matter now. Having Harper back in the lineup will give the Phillies a serious jolt. It truly is amazing.
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