(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
The Philadelphia Phillies finally got their first win of the season on Tuesday against the New York Yankees.
However, the start of the 2023 campaign has been rough for them.
With a 1-4 record, they currently share the basement of the NL East division with the Washington Nationals.
Their struggles can be partially explained by the absence of key players, most notably Bryce Harper.
Harper is the heart and soul of this team, and is a top-ten player in MLB.
He underwent Tommy John surgery after their 2022 World Series run, though.
He was playing with a torn ligament in his elbow and had to get it fixed.
As a result, he wasn’t ready for the start of the season and won’t be ready before the end of the month.
There is some positive news to report, though.
“Thomson said Bryce Harper took regular BP on the field in Yankee Stadium yesterday. He’ll hit on the field again tomorrow,” Phillies insider Alex Coffey tweeted.
Thomson said Bryce Harper took regular BP on the field in Yankee Stadium yesterday. He’ll hit on the field again tomorrow.
— Alex Coffey (@byalexcoffey) April 5, 2023
Thomson is Rob, the Phillies manager.
It’s incredibly encouraging to see Harper hitting already.
Of course, there are still hurdles to clear, but they didn’t place him on the 60-day injured list for a reason: they believe there is a chance he can be ready before June, even though they officially said he would be back at some point in June or July.
The 2015 and 2021 NL MVP is capable of putting the Phillies on his back upon returning.
He is not quite there yet, because he has to test the elbow by hitting for a few days and then start clearing hurdles: live BP and a rehab assignment.
His return is getting closer, though.
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