Report: Nationals OF Bryce Harper could return Monday vs. Rockies

Monday night is Bryce Harper bobblehead night at Nationals Park and, in an interesting twist, the man who has been out since late April with a torn ligament in his left thumb could return the same night, CSN Washington reporter Mark Zuckerman tweeted Thursday evening.

The 21-year-old former NL Rookie of the Year played seven innings on Thursday in Harrisburg and is scheduled to play nine innings on Friday. He is off on Saturday but will be back in left field on Sunday and, "best case" could be back in the Nats' lineup on Monday, according to Zuckerman. 

Harper was put on the disabled list on April 27 and had ligament surgery two days later on his left thumb. He sustained the injury on a headfirst slide into third base. Before going to the DL, Harper was hitting .289 with a home run and nine RBI. 

Heading into Thursday night's game in Chicago vs. the Cubs, Washington was 41-36 and held a one-game  lead in the NL East.  

--Marc Weinreich