Bryce Harper eyeing return date to Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies have been able to temper their bad news today with a positive development.
The Phillies bullpen took a significant hit earlier on Sunday. Not only was it learned that Corey Knebel was lost for the season due to a torn shoulder capsule, but Seranthony Dominguez landed on the Injured List due to a sore triceps. The Phillies had not received the news they had hoped for.
Bryce Harper could be back with Philadelphia Phillies soon
But there has been some positive news as well. On the heels of those bullpen announcements, Bryce Harper told Todd Zolecki of MLB.com that he is hoping to begin a rehab assignment in Triple-A by the middle of the week. If that goes well, he could return to the Phillies lineup around the beginning of September.
The Phillies have been able to maintain their place in the postseason even without Harper’s presence in the lineup. While it would have been easy to throw in the towel, other players have stepped up as the front office made several moves to improve the roster. This has helped Philadelphia to the second Wild Card berth if the season was to end today.
However, there is no question that Harper will be a tremendous boost to the lineup. He had produced an excellent .318/.385/.599 batting line in his 275 plate appearances, hitting 15 homers and 21 doubles before he landed on the IL. The fact that he had put together that type of a season with a small tear in the UCL in his right elbow is all the more impressive.
Chances are, it will take him some time to get back into a groove at the major league level. Even if he begins his rehab assignment in the middle of the upcoming week, he would have approximately seven days before returning to the Phillies based on his hoped-for timeframe. Nonetheless, even his presence in the lineup should be a boost for a team that finds themselves fighting to get back into the postseason.
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The Philadelphia Phillies lineup could get a boost in the next couple of weeks. Bryce Harper is hoping to be back around the beginning of September.