“I think we’re really good,” Harper said. The Phillies have not hit for consistent power. Dombrowski might prefer more offense from his outfield. Pache in center and Marsh in left would be a strong defensive pairing. Cristian Pache is regarded as a better defender in center. He’s played left field before in the majors while with the Angels but has been exclusively a center fielder since the Phillies traded for him last July. They had Brandon Marsh take fly balls in left field Saturday afternoon for the first time all season. If we did make a move or something, if it’s a first baseman or third baseman or outfielder, we’re going to get a really good player.”Ībsent an immediate trade, the Phillies have started to put into motion a new potential outfield alignment.

I’m out here.’ No, I want to be really good over there. “I don’t want to just go over there and be like, ‘Hey, this is great. “I want to be really good over there, not just for myself, but for the team and the guys out there,” Harper said. “Well, that guy handles the ball the second-most behind the catcher.” Harper has dedicated a good amount of energy and thought to his new position.

“Everybody thinks anybody can play first base,” Thomson said. This was part of the agreement when the star outfielder went to team officials earlier this year with the idea. I’ve just got to put in the work and keep understanding mistakes are going to be made, but hopefully not more than they need to be.” But I also think I can be really good over there and really valuable over there. “It’s going to be a learning curve,” Harper said. But, really, they are deferring to Harper. “When I get back from the break I know we’re going to do some more tags or cut stuff.”Īfter that? Thomson and veteran infield coach Bobby Dickerson, who is overseeing Harper’s transition, will have input. “I know that we still have some more stuff to do out there,” Harper said. But he will not be playing the position when the team returns to Citizens Bank Park next weekend. 1 trade deadline, and the Phillies expect to know how Harper can handle first base well before that. “Whenever it is time for him to go play, there’s going to be some bumps and bruises along the way,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. Harper is learning a new position on the fly, and the Phillies have progressed to the smaller details. Then, he simulated slow-hit, in-between balls toward the hole that require a first baseman to make a do-or-die decision on whether to cover the bag or go for the ball. He practiced relay throws as the cut-off man. The Phillies are lunging forward with the plan to move Harper to first base sometime soon after the All-Star break. Maybe the most important work Saturday came hours before the first pitch. 290/.386/.400 line that was both productive and quite un-Harper-like. So, Harper could enter the All-Star break with a. Harper exited Saturday’s game with soreness in that right elbow, but X-rays were negative. Getting hit by a 90 mph fastball on his reconstructed elbow was not a gift. “Everything before the break was a gift,” Harper said before Saturday’s 5-3 loss to the Marlins. He has contributed to a Phillies team that is playing well. But he is reaching base at an elite rate. He has gone 36 games without crushing a homer - the longest streak of his career. He beat every timeline and authored what is believed to be the quickest return from Tommy John surgery on record (160 days). It was a first half of extremes for Harper. “Well,” Harper told him, “if I can get 60 hits in the offseason and spring training that count toward my year, I’ll take it.”

Bryce harper