Bryce Harper will have a new offseason home this winter

Bryce Harper is on the move … to Tennessee.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported in his most recent notes column that Harper plans to move his family’s offseason residency from Las Vegas, Nevada to Knoxville, Tennessee. Nightengale noted that Tennessee has become a hotbed of sorts for major league baseball players in recent years.

Harper, who was born and raised in Las Vegas, usually spends the offseason in his hometown. Like most athletes, he does not reside in the Philadelphia area full-time, but he does maintain a residence in New Jersey.

It’s a big move for Harper and his young family, but on the field, he’s focusing on an even more drastic change.

Harper is expected to become the Phillies’ starting first baseman some time after the All-Star Break. It could happen as early as July 14 at home against the San Diego Padres, but the expectation is that he’ll be back on the field before the Aug. 1 trade deadline. Harper has logged less than an inning as an infielder in his major league career.

As Paul Casella of MLB.com pointed out, he was a first baseman as part of a five-man outfield in a Nationals-Marlins game in 2018. His future Phillies teammate J.T. Realmuto hit a game-winning single over his head.

It’s not easy to learn a new position, let alone transition from the outfield to the infield less than a year removed from Tommy John surgery.

But if it all goes well for Harper and the Phillies, maybe the newest Knoxville resident will have some fresh hardware to display in his home.

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