Phillies Need To End Bryce Harper Outfield Experiment

“I was not feeling it,” Harper said Tuesday, via Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic (subscription required), “but the more I’ve ramped it up, I’ve gotten sore. I think the more I play, I think it’ll help me — just getting in condition more. I feel like I’m in spring training again, trying to get through everything. The more I play, the more my body is accustomed to playing the outfield, I think it’ll kind of weasel its way out.”

That should be the first sign to shut this experiment down. Harper is a gamer and wants to continue playing the outfield if it puts the team in a better position to succeed, but there isn’t any real reason for him to be out there at this point.

His move to right field wasn’t to accommodate Arraez’s arrival at second base as much as a way to keep Alec Bohm in the lineup. And given how he has performed this season, keeping him as an everyday player at first base at the expense of Harper’s health makes no sense.

In the seven games that have been played with the new defensive alignment, with Bryson Stott heading to third base and Arraez at second, Harper has been the designated hitter twice. In those two contests, Kyle Schwarber played first base.

In an encouraging update, Harper did reveal that there is no pain when he is hitting or running. Any sudden start-and-stop in the outfield is what will cause the pain. While Mattingly said that Harper’s deployment as the designated hitter for Game 1 against the St. Louis Cardinals was to manage the pain, the All-Star thought it had more to do with the steamy weather conditions than anything.

“Obviously it’s bothering me a little bit,” Harper said. “But we’ll see. I’ll take a DH (day) any time I can get it, but I don’t think we’re at that point yet.”

At this point, what is the incentive for Philadelphia to continue pushing things with Harper in the outfield? Bohm hasn’t warranted an everyday role with his level of play, and would likely be better off only starting against left-handed pitchers.

A strong argument can be made that the Phillies would be better off giving more playing time to Derek Hill or Bryan De La Cruz in right field, pushing Harper back to first base and Bohm to the bench.

Harper moving to the outfield was only supposed to happen to accommodate a major upgrade to the lineup. Bohm does not qualify as such, and he should be moved to the bench, with Arraez at second base and Stott not only acclimating himself well to the hot corner, but heating up with the bat as well.

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