Bryce Harper will indeed return to the lineup for the Philadelphia Phillies Tuesday in Los Angeles.
Harper met Monday with Neal ElAttrache Monday, 159 days after the noted surgeon performed Tommy John surgery on Harper’s right elbow. According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, Harper has received clearance to return to the Phillies lineup as a DH.
In recent weeks, Harper has been taking live batting practice sessions and doing rigorous on-field work prior to games. The only hurdle he needed to clear before returning was being given the green light to start sliding (with a brace on his right elbow) again. Evidently, he received said clearance Monday, as he hinted at in an Instagram post:
Since signing a 13-year/$330 million deal to join the Phillies prior to the 2019 season, Harper has slashed .282/.394/.546 with 101 home runs, 296 RBIs and a .940 OPS. Harper won the 2021 NL MVP, before taking home the NLCS MVP in 2022.