Harper Reportedly Could Be In Philadelphia Phillies Lineup On Tuesday

The Philadelphia Phillies could welcome back Bryce Harper to the lineup on Tuesday, 160 days after Tommy John surgery.

Bryce Harper is scheduled for a visit with the doctor Monday morning to check on his surgically repaired elbow.

If all goes well, Harper could be in the Philadelphia Phillies lineup Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, according to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb.

That would mean Harper’s return would come 160 days after Tommy John surgery on Nov. 23 performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache.

That’s also a minor miracle.

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.

If the appointment is successful, he’ll be hitting home runs again in record time.

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