Breaking news: Bryce Harper is now a first baseman! Yes, you read that right. The Phillies plan to prepare Harper to play first base sometime later this season. Don’t worry, his timetable to return to the Phillies’ lineup remains the same. He’ll still be the designated hitter because he’ll be cleared to hit in games first before throwing. But wait, there’s more! If Harper takes to this new position, the Phillies think he could return to the field sooner than playing right field. Wow, we’ve got a multitasker here!
Teammate coach Rob Thomson believes that Harper is a team player, and he wants to play. “That just tells you something about Harp,” Thomson told The Athletic before Wednesday’s 3-2 Phillies loss to the Marlins in 10 innings. “The team guy that he is. He wants to play.”
Harper will be back to the outfield sometime in September if everything goes accordingly. Otherwise, some think that Harper should be a DH, period, for 2023. Harper thinks that it’s too soon to know if this new position will accelerate his return to playing a position in the field, but he’s convinced that it’s worth trying. According to Harper, “If I can give them whatever they want from first base or right field, or whatever it is — not just this year, but going forward — it gives us an opportunity,” said Harper. “Whatever it is. Whatever they want. It gives them the option to do that.”
First base became a realistic home for Harper after Rhys Hoskins’ season-ending injury and Darick Hall’s thumb surgery set him aside for at least two months. Don’t worry. Throws are still part of the plays, which means Harper will still need it, but they’re not as strenuous as the throws a right fielder makes. Woohoo!
It seems that Thomson believes that Harper can learn first base. He says, “Harp? I do because he’s an athlete. He’s a baseball rat. He’ll work at it.” Besides, it’s not like there was anything else better to do, right?
If all goes well, Harper vacating the DH spot later in summer gives more flexibility to search for potential upgrades at the trade deadline, per Dombrowski. If Harper is positioned at first base, the Phillies could take a right-handed-hitting outfielder and shift either Kyle Schwarber or Nick Castellanos to a full-time DH role. Sounds like a plan, doesn’t it?
Dickerson got the chance to talk to Harper about his humor before Harper’s practice on Wednesday afternoon. “New toy at Christmas?” Dickerson said to him. “No, I want to do this,” Harper responded. It seems that Dickerson understood, and it’s on like Donkey Kong!
For almost 10 minutes Wednesday afternoon, Harper stood on the grass with Dombrowski talking about this new position. He even demonstrated what he can do during practice the day before. There’s a lot of uncertainty around these drills, though. The drills are just a method for Harper to stay busy, so they say. But let’s be honest, no outfielders ever do the drills with a first baseman’s mitt — and that’s what Harper did!
One thing’s for sure: Harper has always had infield gloves, and the first baseman’s mitt was something he had to have— just in case. Dickerson said, “He’s real serious about it. Obviously, he wouldn’t be the superstar he is without that. When he decides to do something, he’s all in.” In the end, it all depends on how Harper handles the big situations and stress and all. So, he is giving it everything he’s got.
While we’re still waiting for Harper’s return, he’s taking batting practice on the field and hit against a high-velocity machine. He even practiced the unfamiliar actions as a first baseman that lasted for 23 minutes! Brian Harper is the Phillies’ multi-purpose man! We’re rooting for ya, Bryce!
