Inside The Phillies

Bryce Harper Hits Off Tee, Could Take Batting Practice Before End of Spring Training

Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper hit off of a tee on Thursday as he returns to swinging a bat. He could take batting practice before the end of MLB Spring Training.
Kade Kistner|
Bryce Harper Hits Off Tee, Could Take Batting Practice Before End of Spring Training
Bryce Harper Hits Off Tee, Could Take Batting Practice Before End of Spring Training

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Philadelphia Phillies

Bryce Harper is back in camp with the Philadelphia Phillies after arriving on Thursday morning. As we already discussed, Harper addressed the media about his recovery following Tommy John surgery on his elbow and not rushing a potential timetable to return.

Following holding court, Harper then went and hit off of a tee. The 2021 National League MVP has reportedly been taking dry swings, but the fact he is now hitting off of a tee and at real baseballs is significant. 

In fact, according to Jayson Stark of The Athletic, Harper very well could take batting practice on the field before the end of MLB Spring Training. He goes one further by saying that, while not likely, it is possible Harper could take live batting practice. 

Not to speculate too much, but if those developments were to happen then the timetable for Harper's return might lean more towards before the MLB All-Star break in July rather than after it.

Harper is a competitor and he wants to get in the lineup as soon as possible. If he can safely fast track his recovery, he will as seen in the recent past.

 More From SI's Inside The Phillies:

  1. Phillies Star Bryce Harper Doesn't Hold Back on Thoughts About Joe Girardi
  2. How Mike Trout Will Join the Phillies
  3. Could Bryce Harper's Favorite MLB Player Join the Philadelphia Phillies in 2023?
  4. Could The Phillies Soon Be Playing in Wawa Park?
  5. Bryce Harper-Obsessed Japanese Baseball Star Wants to Play for Phillies
  6. Six Philadelphia Phillies Declare Free Agency
  7. Rumored Phillies Free Agent Target Just Opted Out of Contract
  8. Jimmy Rollins Describes Disrespectful Treatment by Ryne Sandberg
  9. Phillies Release 2023 Regular Season Schedule
  10. Picking the Phillies' All-Time Single Season Lineup

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Kade Kistner
KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Phillies. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl.  During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated.  Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.

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