Phillies Hitting Coach Long Discusses Why Bryce Harper Is On Road to Quick Recovery

Bryce Harper appears to be on the way back to Citizens Bank Park in record time from Tommy John surgery.

Harper had surgery on Nov. 23. If he returns in mid-May, it would certainly beat all estimates.

Since the surgery, Philadelphia Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long has spent countless hours with Harper.

The current plan is for Harper to skip rehab games and return directly to the Phillies when he’s ready.

Long doesn’t believe it’s a crazy idea, either.

“He’s had no games ever, up to that point — up to playing in a spring training game, which is major-league-caliber pitching,” Long told The Athletic’s Matt Gelb. “It’s the major leagues. Now, everybody is getting started. But, in essence, it’s kind of the same. So I don’t think it’s as crazy and as absurd as it may look. I think it’s more like, ‘OK, I may be on. I may be a little rough.’ I don’t know. I don’t really know what to expect. And that’s more or less what you get with spring training.

“You don’t know whether guys are coming out on fire or struggling a little bit.”

Even a Most Valuable Player-caliber player such as Harper might struggle when he initially returns.

Wouldn’t rehab games help?

“So I don’t think it’s as crazy and as absurd as it may look,” Long told The Athletic. “I think it’s more like, ‘OK, I may be on. I may be a little rough.’ I don’t know. I don’t really know what to expect. And that’s more or less what you get with spring training. You don’t know whether guys are coming out on fire or struggling a little bit.”

Long and Harper have been working on Harper’s swing, which will bring a much-needed jolt to the Phillies lineup.

Yes, the Phillies hit seven home runs in the three weekend games against the Colorado Rockies. Adding Harper to any lineup automatically makes them better.

That was evident last season, especially in the playoffs.

“I think it’s great. I mean, it looks really, really good,” Long said. “I think he looks comfortable. It’d be one thing if he was guarding an injury. He’s not guarding anything. He’s basically just waiting for us to say, ‘Let’s go.’ And then he’ll start to figure it out.”

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