Phillies’ Bryce Harper Nearly Ready to Play But Key Hurdle Remains

Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper is making progress toward a return to the team after undergoing Tommy John surgery in the offseason.

According to manager Rob Thomson, Harper has progressed to the point where he’s ready to hit in a game. However, he’s not ready to do everything demanded of a player once he’s on base, as Philadelphia’s skipper indicated Tuesday that sliding is the main obstacle keeping Harper from making his return.

“Once they clear him to do full-out sliding, once we get that, then we'd reevaluate,” said Thomson of the two-time National League MVP, via NBC Sports. 

“Once he gets on base, then we can put a brace on him. But if he hits a double, we can't hand a brace off to him as he's rounding first base. That's really where it gets dangerous,” added Thomson. 

Once team doctors clear Harper to begin sliding, the Phillies should have a more clear timeline for when the 30-year-old will be back. For now, however, he remains without a firm timetable for his return.

Harper is expected to be the Phillies’ DH when he returns. After he underwent the surgery on his UCL, the organization indicated they were targeting the All-Star break for his return, but it seems likely that he’ll be back before then. The team placed him on the 10-day IL, rather than the 60-day, leaving the door open for a return before June.