Phillies prepares Bryce Harper to potentially play first base after returning from injured list, according to report

Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper continues to fight his way back from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last November. As the team contemplates his welcome return to the lineup, a new potential role for Harper has emerged.

As The Athletic’s Matt Gelb reports, Harper approached the team about playing first base at some point after returning to the active roster, and the club thought it would be a good idea to go through with it. Gelb writes:

“This week the Phillies initiated the plan. They are preparing Harper to play at first base later this season. This will not affect his timeline to return to the Phillies lineup – he will still return as the designated hitter because he will be cleared to hit in games before being cleared to pitch. But if Harper takes the new position, the Phillies believe it will allow him to return to the field faster than if he played right field.”

The Phillies are in need of the position because incumbent Rhys Hoskins suffered a serious knee injury during spring training that can sideline him all season. As the Phillies and Harper realize, first base would probably put less strain on his surgically repaired throwing arm than right field.

Not long after Hoskins’ injury, we came up with the idea of ​​Harper as his replacement. Harper has two career appearances at first base, and while the position has its demands and skill requirements, it is not a premium position, and many players have made a successful transition to first base from elsewhere on the diamond.

As for Harper’s return, the Phillies opted not to put him on the 60-day injured list to start the season, raising hopes that he would return to Philly before the end of May. As mentioned above, he will initially be a DH, but Harper’s powerful bat will be a boon to a Phillies offense that has struggled to put runs on the board thus far in 2023. Harper’s journey back to the active roster may begin soon, since manager Rob Thomson recently told WIP that he only needs permission to slide before he’s ready for a minor league rehab assignment. That’s when the countdown begins — a countdown to the return of their leading hitter and perhaps their new first baseman.