The Return of Bryce Harper
159 days ago, Bryce Harper underwent Tommy John surgery to repair a torn Ulnar Collateral Ligament in his right elbow.
This morning, after an assessment by physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache, he was cleared to play. Harper’s expected to slot into the lineup Tuesday night in the second game of the Phillies’ series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
If Harper’s return seems a little fast, well, that’s because it is. Freakishly so. The typical timeline for a player returning from Tommy John surgery is anywhere from 9 months to a year, with position players erring on the shorter side of the rehabilitation process. Harper, who had the surgery on November 23rd, will be making his return to the field in just over 5 months – the fastest in Major League history to date.
Harper’s return to the lineup, as welcome a sight as it is, does raise some questions. With the original timeline of his return slated for some time around the All-Star break, one has to ask, is this too much too soon? Harper, who has not participated in any Minor League rehabilitation games, instead opted for live at-bats against other pitchers in the Phillies organization. It’s an approach that both Harper and hitting coach Kevin Long are hoping will pan out in a more efficient and effective manner than spending a week in AA – Harper, whose averaged 46 plate appearances in past spring trainings, has tried to replicate that workload in his live at-bats.
Will it pay off? Only time will tell if simulated at-bats are as valuable as a real game experience; however, one thing is for certain: the Phillies can not wait around for Harper to find his footing offensively. After taking 2 out of 3 in their World Series rematch against the Houston Astros, the Phillies are now 15-14. They’ve won 7 of their last 10 games and have been victorious in their last 4 series. The starting pitching is finally beginning to pull its own weight, allowing the bullpen to live up to its potential as one of the most ferocious units in the game. Nick Castellanos is continuing a strong season both at the plate and in the field, and contributions have been made from across the lineup in every victory.
In short, the Phillies are back to playing good baseball again – the kind of game that’s expected out of a roster as deep and talented as they are. Harper will be expected to hit the ground running. It’s no small task, even for one of the best players in the sport. However, has Harper ever given us a reason to doubt him?
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