New York Daily News

Harper a few weeks away

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Bryce Harper’s arrival at spring training remains a few weeks away as the Phillies slugger recovers from elbow surgery.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Thursday that Harper is taking swings with a bat at home in Las Vegas and will report March 8 or 9.

Harper had surgery on his right elbow in November after leading the Phillies to the NL pennant. The Phillies said then that Harper was expected to return in a designated hitter role by the All-Star break and could play right field by season’s end.

“He’s doing great from the recovery perspectiv­e,” Dombrowski said. “In his progress, doctors are happy where he is.”

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said the next step in the rehab progress will be Harper hitting off a tee and taking soft toss in a batting cage.

The 30-year-old Harper sustained small tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in April. He last played right field at Miami on April 16.

BRUINS GRAB CAPS’ ORLOV

The NHL-leading Bruins acquired defenseman Dmitry Orlov and forward Garnet Hathaway from the Capitals on Thursday, the latest big trade acquisitio­n by an Eastern

Conference contender.

Boston sent a 2023 first-round pick, a 2024 second-rounder, a 2025 third-rounder and forward Craig Smith to Washington and an additional 2023 fifth-rounder to Minnesota. The Capitals retained half of Orlov’s salary and the Wild got the extra pick for retaining an extra 25% to make Boston’s cap situation work.

The move gives the Bruins extra size and toughness on the blue line and up front while they try to turn one of the best regular seasons in hockey history into a deep playoff run.

The Capitals are selling at the trade deadline for the first time since Alex Ovechkin’s rookie year more than a decade and a half ago.

LPGA’S STEPHENSON HAS BREAST CANCER

Jan Stephenson, a three-time major champion and World Golf Hall of Fame member, has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Her “Crossroads Foundation” said Thursday the cancer was stage 3 and the 71-yearold Australian will begin a treatment of chemothera­py and radiation in the next two weeks.

“It means so much to me for all my friends and family to lend so much support,” Stephenson said in a statement. “I have had

some negative challenges in my career and managed to survive. This is just another tough hole that is ‘uphill and against the wind.’ See you on my next downhill and downwind hole!”

Stephenson was among the first to bring sex appeal to women’s golf. Stephenson’s most famous moment outside the ropes was posing in a bathtub, her body covered only by golf balls.

FAN PUNCHES GOALIE

A fan ran onto the field in PSV Eindhoven’s match against Sevilla in The Netherland­s and punched the Spanish team’s goalkeeper in the face before he was wrestled to the ground on Thursday.

The incident happened late in the Europa League match at the PSV Stadium in Eindhoven and goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovi carried on playing, apparently unhurt.

After he was hit, Dmitrovi subdued the fan, who was quickly surrounded by players from both teams and then led away as many supporters as the stadium crowd booed.

The Serbian goalkeeper was a late inclusion in Sevilla’s starting lineup after Yassine Bounou felt ill before the match.

PSV won the second-leg match, 2-0.

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 ?? AP ?? Bryce Harper is still recovering from elbow surgery.
AP Bryce Harper is still recovering from elbow surgery.

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