ATLANTA — Bryce Harper continues to make progress throwing but is unlikely to play 1st base ahead of the All-Star break, Phillies manager Rob Thomson mentioned prior to Friday’s game against the Braves.
Harper has been throwing out to 90 feet and will at some point graduate to 120 feet, but the Phillies are becoming cautious. Throwing is the final piece of his rehab from Tommy John surgery, and with his bat currently in the lineup in the designated hitter spot, the Phillies do not want to rush him back to the field and danger re-aggravation.
Covey to get started Sunday
Dylan Covey will make his 1st get started as a Phillie on Sunday Evening Baseball against the Braves, opposite MLB strikeout leader Spencer Strider.
No stress.
Covey pitched incredibly nicely in his Phillies debut Tuesday, permitting 1 run to the Diamondbacks more than 5 innings with six strikeouts. Covey’s lone run scored straight away as he was greeted with a single and a triple, but he held the D-backs in verify from there.
He threw 91 pitches in that outing and is constructed up to attain or exceed one hundred.
Covey has appeared in just two games this season — 1 with the Phillies and 1 with the Dodgers earlier in the month. Altogether, he’s offered up 3 runs more than nine innings with nine strikeouts and two walks.
Phillies claim an outfielder
The Phillies claimed outfielder Cal Stevenson off waivers from the San Francisco Giants and optioned him to Triple A.
Rule five pitcher Noah Song (low back strain) was transferred to the 60-day injured list to make area on the 40-man roster for the 26-year-old Stevenson.
“Speed guy, far more of a defender,” Thomson mentioned. “He’s hit in the minor leagues, not in the majors. Walks far more than he strikes out. He’s bounced about fairly a bit, so teams like him, it really is just a matter of roster management and he’s DFA’d or traded.”
Stevenson appeared in 23 games with the Athletics final season and went ten-for-60 (.167) with 3 doubles. He was -for-9 with 3 walks in six games with the Giants.
Hall will have to have to earn his way back
Darick Hall could commence a rehab assignment early subsequent week and is eligible to return from the 60-day IL on June five, but he will have to have to hit his way back to the spot he opened the season with.
The Phillies employed Hall as a 1st baseman against appropriate-handed pitching in the season’s 1st week and 1st base is the only spot for him now with Harper DH’ing each day.
“He’s got to go down and carry out 1st and make certain he’s wholesome and create innings,” Thomson mentioned. “I know he comes off the 60-day on June five, but he’s got some games he wants to get below his belt.”
Kody Clemens, yet another left-handed hitter, has began 11 of the Phillies’ final 28 games at 1st base and made in these begins, hitting .316 with 4 homers, two doubles and ten RBI.
“He’s swung the bat nicely, played strong defense,” Thomson mentioned. “The moment’s not as well large for him.”