Philadelphia Phillies Set Timetable for Harper's First Start at First Base
Bryce Harper’s first start as Philadelphia Phillies first baseman will come during the series with the Milwaukee Brewers, per MLB.com.
That series starts on Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park. It ends on Thursday. The Phillies did not specify which game Harper would make his first start.
The Phillies said after the All-Star Break that it was possible Harper could play first base in this weekend’s series with San Diego.
This is the next step in Harper’s incredible recovery from Tommy John surgery, the fastest for any position player.
Harper started the season on the injured list after he had Tommy John surgery in the offseason for a partially torn UCL ligament, one he played with for the majority of last season as the Phillies made a run to the World Series.
He was cleared to return to baseball 159 days later, beating a record timetable set by Tony Womack (182 days) in 2004.
Since he returned, he has served strictly as a designated hitter and on Saturday he snapped a career-long homerless streak of 166 plate appearances. That home run helped the Phillies wrap up a doubleheader victory over the San Diego Padres. Harper’s home run was his fourth of the season.
The Phillies wrap up their series with the Padres on Sunday, which is followed by an off-day on Monday.
More From SI's Inside The Phillies:
- Phillies Star Bryce Harper Doesn't Hold Back on Thoughts About Joe Girardi
- How Mike Trout Will Join the Phillies
- Could Bryce Harper's Favorite MLB Player Join the Philadelphia Phillies in 2023?
- Could The Phillies Soon Be Playing in Wawa Park?
- Bryce Harper-Obsessed Japanese Baseball Star Wants to Play for Phillies
- Six Philadelphia Phillies Declare Free Agency
- Rumored Phillies Free Agent Target Just Opted Out of Contract
- Jimmy Rollins Describes Disrespectful Treatment by Ryne Sandberg
- Phillies Release 2023 Regular Season Schedule
- Picking the Phillies' All-Time Single Season Lineup