Philadelphia Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is now hoping Bryce Harper can return to the lineup at some before May 29th, which is earlier than the original "All-Star break" timetable.
"I think in our situation we continually say we anticipate him before the All-Star game, which we think will happen," Dombrowski said Tuesday on the 94WIP Morning Show. "The one thing you never know about setbacks with these type of things, so that's why having a specific time date is always very difficult. Do I hope that he comes back before that? Sure, no question about it. An idea, when you look at this, is that we're not going to put him on the emergency injury list—which would keep him out until May 29th because we're going to keep our options open that we're hopeful that he'll come back [before May 29th]. But he's doing great, absolutely tremendous."
"As far as playing the outfield is concerned, I have no idea on that regard. He'll begin throwing here in another month or so, but I'm really not all that concerned even with that one at this point. It would be great if he gets out there this year, but as long as we get his bat in the middle of the lineup we'll worried about the outfield—but he'll eventually play outfield, if it's not this year then next year."
Earlier on the 94WIP Morning Show, Phillies senior advisor Larry Bowa echoed similar sentiment.
"I've been watching Harp," Bowa said. "They can erase that date they put on for him. That's no inside information, that's just my opinion."
Harper, who had Tommy John surgery in November, joined Jon Marks & Ike Reese on March 9th and gave this update on his health.
"I feel real good...my body feels, I feel strong. Elbow feels good, just taking it day by day and kind of seeing after each workout or after each rep, things like that, how I'm feeling and how I'm recovering."
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