If Harper shows he can hold things down at first, the Phillies could pursue a right-handed hitting outfielder via trade.Ī seven-time All-Star and one of baseball's most dynamic players, Harper is batting. Nick Castellanos started Friday's game in right and Philadelphia recalled Jake Cave from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to play left. With Harper at first, the Phillies can use Kyle Schwarber as their designated hitter. "But I think it helps being experience being able to handle that as opposed to a younger player that hasn’t accomplished much yet. “He expects a lot out of himself, that’s for sure,” Thomson said. Not every player could handle a position switch like Harper is undertaking. The defending National League champion Phillies enter the weekend 10 1/2 games out of first place in the NL East but in the thick of the wild-card race. "The thing that he’s got to get used to is fielding the position on bunt plays, but we’ve had enough time practicing on that so I think he’s going to be fine.” “I don’t think ground balls will necessarily be a problem and throws across the diamond won’t be a problem or cuts and relays," he said. Thomson is confident Harper will adapt quickly to his new spot. Before taking pregame grounders in Progressive Field, Harper chatted briefly with team David Dombrowski, the team's president of baseball operations. Harper has been getting in extra infield work lately, and a few days ago he approached Thomson and said he was ready for a game. Thomson also joked he's happy to not have to answer any more questions about Harper's move. “We’ve prepared him and now it’s just about getting used to game speed and getting used to those situations.”Īs if on cue, Harper fielded a grounder by Cleveland leadoff hitter Steven Kwan in the first and flipped the ball to Phillies starter Ranger Suárez covering the bag for an out.
#Bryce harper stats this year series#
“I’m excited to see how he does,” Thomson said before the opener of a three-game series with the Guardians. He had not played any defense this year while his elbow recovers. Harper, who has made a quick recovery from Tommy John surgery last year, has played 1,258 games _ mostly in the outfield. Harper will be the designated hitter when he's not at first. Manager Rob Thomson said the initial plan is for the two-time MVP to play in the field every other game. The Phillies have moved the two-time MVP to first ahead of the trading deadline to see if he can handle the position before they make any moves. Harper was uninjured and popped to his feet as the Phillies and their fans likely exhaled in relief. Harper, who has spent the bulk of his major league career in the outfield, tracked the ball before snagging it and then falling. Leading off the third, Cleveland's Amed Rosario hit a towering pop down the first-base line. Making his first career start at first base, Philadelphia’s star slugger made a tough catch while tumbling into a photographer's pit in the third inning of Friday night's game against the Cleveland Guardians. CLEVELAND – Bryce Harper has made quite a first impression.
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