PHILLIES LEAVING OPTIONS FLEXIBLE
The Philadelphia Phillies are leaving open the possibility for Bryce Harper to return to their lineup much sooner than the All-Star break, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a quickerthan-expected return for the slugger from reconstructive right elbow surgery.
While Harper will begin the season on the injured list, Phillies President of Base- ball Opera- tions Dave Dombrowski said Tuesday that the two-time National League MVP will not, for now, be placed on the longer 60-day IL that would mean he couldn’t be activated before the end of May.
“I’m not setting any dates, but I’m just keeping that option open rather than closing an option,” Dombrowski said from the team’s spring training facility in Clearwater, Fla.
After Harper had Tommy John surgery in November, the National League champions said they expected him back in the lineup as their designated hitter by the AllStar break in July. The slugger indicated the same when he got to camp last month, adding that they were going to be smart about his recovery and rehab.
Dombrowski said the timetable hasn’t really changed, and that the Phillies could still use the 60day IL if they need to open a spot on the 40-man roster and know then Harper wouldn’t be back before the end of May.
“So it’s really not a great revelation other than to just say the reality is, I’m going to just keep our options open, because who knows what happens,” Dombrowski said.
Dombrowski said Harper, who for now is still hitting soft toss in the batting cages every other day, is feeling great and has no pain.
“All I’ve said, and all I’ll continue to say, it’ll be before the All-Star break is our hope,” Dombrowski said. “But I’m also going to keep the option open that we’ll see what happens.”
Sore Cueto
The Miami Marlins are being cautious with veteran right-hander Johnny Cueto, who is dealing with arm soreness just over a week before the start of the regular season.
First-year manager Skip Schumaker didn’t seem concerned when explaining why Cueto didn’t do his scheduled work on a back field the previous day. Cueto had been set to throw about 70 pitches while simulating four or five innings.
“This is a time where there’s no reason to push through this general soreness,” Schumaker said. “If he needs another extra day, you give people extra days and that’s the value of spring training. You’re allowed to do that.”
Cueto, back in camp with the Marlins after making a start for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, is scheduled for a bullpen session today. If all goes well, he could pitch in a game for the Marlins on Friday.
Pitch clock tweaks
MLB’s new pitch clock is going to undergo some timing adjustments before it is turned on for games that count.
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred called the changes “significant” but also described them as “clarifications” based on input from players. The alterations are likely to be announced today.
Notable
The Diamondbacks will go into the season without catcher Carson Kelly, who has a broken bone in his right forearm after getting hit by a pitch in a Cactus League game and likely will miss several months.
• Julio Urias is lined up to start on opening day for the Dodgers and that’s OK with teammate Clayton Kershaw.
• Michael Soroka is set to make his Grapefruit League debut for the Braves today, though the right-hander won’t be ready to be in their rotation at the start of the year.