Bryce Harper has not played defense for about a year and a half now and everyone is eagerly anticipating his debut at first base.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson laid out the plan for Harper on Wednesday's 94WIP Morning Show.
"We had the All-Star break and we came out of the All-Star and we had four games in 48 hours, we really couldn't get much work done," Thomson said. "For me to put him at first base, I just wanted to make sure he is completely healthy and able to get through it without putting him in danger. So I just put it off for a few days. He's going to get out there hopefully soon."
Is the goal for Harper to become the team's every day first baseman?
"We'll have to build him up because he hasn't played defense in a year and a half," Thomson explained. "Once we get there, he'll play a game, he'll DH the next game, play a game, you know. Start building him back to back days and three days in a row. It's going to be awhile before he becomes the every day first baseman. As long as we can get there by August 1st, by the trade deadline, and make sure he's our guy we'll be good."
Harper, 30, underwent Tommy Johnson surgery in November of 2022 and returned to the Phillies' lineup as a designated hitter in early May, much sooner than expected.
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