Rehabbing Harper to begin revving things up
Wearing a tan suit and flanked by two Las Vegas showgirls, Bryce Harper raised a microphone to his mouth with his left hand and issued the command, "Drivers, start your engines!"
He raised his right index finger and mimicked turning a car key. With that, Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race got under way at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Harper's hometown.
On Wednesday, Harper will report to Clearwater, Florida, to start his spring training, which has been delayed as the Philadelphia Phillies slugger recovers from reconstructive surgery on his right elbow. How quickly he can rev it up is to be determined.
The two-time National League MVP had surgery on Nov. 23, one month after sending the Phillies to the World Series with a dramatic two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series against the San Diego Padres.
Following his surgery, the Phillies said Harper was expected to return to the lineup as designated hitter by the All-Star break and could return to playing right field by the end of the regular season.
The 30-year-old Harper will have some catching up to do when he arrives in Florida. His teammates have been adjusting to the new pitch clock, part of Major League Baseball's efforts to speed up the game.
"It's going to be a different game, of course, especially with myself and a lot of guys that have been playing for a long time," Harper said during a news conference at the speedway. "It's going to be different to see baseball on a time clock, but it's something we're going to have to adapt to. We'll see what happens going forward. I look forward to kind of progressing in that how and when I can."
He injured his elbow in April and last played right field on April 16. He had a platelet-rich plasma injection in May and became a full-time designated hitter to finish the season, helping lead the Phillies to their first World Series since 2009.
They lost to the Houston Astros in six games, but Harper had an outstanding postseason, batting .349 with six homers and 13 RBIs in 17 games.
Harper also missed time last year with a broken left thumb after he was hit by a pitch from San Diego's Blake Snell in late June.
No discipline for Clevinger
MLMB said it won't discipline Chicago White Sox right-hander Mike Clevinger after completing its investigation into domestic abuse allegations. The commissioner's office said in a statement its investigation included interviews of more than 15 people, including Clevinger and a woman who said she is the mother of Clevinger's child, as well as thousands of electronic communications and other documents.
Clevinger has agreed to submit to evaluations by the joint treatment boards under the collective bargaining agreement and to follow any recommendations, according to the statement.
"I had nothing to hide and cooperated fully with MLB," Clevinger said in a statement released by the players' union. "This situation has been stressful for my family, and I thank them for their strength and support. I asked everyone not to rush to judgment until MLB's investigation was concluded, and I appreciate everyone who had faith in me, including the White Sox organization and my teammates."
The 32-year-old Clevinger finalized a $12 million, one-year contract with Chicago in December.