How much time will Phillies All-Star Bryce Harper miss after Tommy John surgery?
Philadelphia Phillies star outfielder Bryce Harper underwent successful Tommy John surgery Wednesday in Los Angeles, adding clarity to his status for 2023.
According to the Phillies, Harper's prognosis targets a return to the designated hitter role by the All-Star break and a possible return to playing right field near the end of the regular season.
While the news isn't likely to excite Phillies fans, Harper could reportedly be back sooner than the team said.
Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports that a source within the Phillies said Harper's surgery went "very well," and the slugger could be "hitting competitively" by "mid-May," nearly two months ahead of the Midsummer Classic.
Last week, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski announced that Harper would undergo surgery but revealed the team wouldn't know the severity of the injury nor how much time he'd miss until Dr. Neal ElAttrache "takes a look at it."
Harper suffered a UCL injury in the first month of the season and a broken left thumb in June, which forced him to miss 52 games. He played 91 of 99 games at DH, posting 18 homers and 65 RBI.
The injury didn't slow Harper down in the postseason, as he helped the Phillies reach the World Series, batting .349/.414/.746 with six home runs and 13 RBI.
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