Bryce Harper cleared to take swings

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Phillies slugger Bryce Harper is expected to report to Phillies camp on March 8 or 9, according to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.

He’s limited in what he can do in his rehab, but Dombrowski did say that Harper has been cleared to take dry swings, meaning he can swing the bat but not hit the baseball.

“He’s doing well,” Dombrowski said. “He texted me back and forth yesterday on a couple things. He’s doing very well in his progress. Doctors are happy with where he is.”

Manager Rob Thomson said Harper is technically ahead of schedule on his rehab, but that’s not necessarily something to be overly optimistic about.

“I think you can say he’s a little bit ahead, but oftentimes, you say that about players and then all of a sudden, they have a setback,” Thomson said. “Just knocking on wood and just gonna make sure we’re careful with how we keep progressing with him.”

The next step for Harper, Thomson says, is working off the tee followed by soft toss and batting practice.

The Phillies estimate he will return to the Phillies lineup as a designated hitter sometime before the All-Star Break. The hope is that Harper can build up his arm and return to right field before the end of the regular season.

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