Harper hitless no more
Bryce Harper got his first hit of spring training.
Harper lined a 97-mph fastball to center in the fourth inning of Wednesday’s game against Detroit his first spring training hit with the Philadelphia Phillies after a 0-for-9 start.
Harper jokingly gestured toward the dugout that he wanted to keep the ball.
It was Harper’s 16th plate appearance over six exhibition games. Spencer Turnbull struck him out swinging in the first.
In his final at-bat, Harper walked against Reed Garrett to lead off the seventh. Harper has struck out six times and drawn five walks.
“Took great swings on pitches that he just missed and fouled back,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said after the 3-1 loss to the Tigers.
“And one swing, a foul ball (down the third-base side) that was a real near-miss. You could see with just a little bit better timing that ball is in the seats in left field. So, a lot to get excited about there with Bryce.” Harper played seven innings in right field. Kapler plans to hit Harper third regularly during the regular season.
“Right now I’m happy with Harper in the three-hole because I think it makes him feel most confident,” Kapler said. “For me, that trumps anything.”
Harper agreed to a $330 million, 13-year contract in late February, almost two weeks after spring training began. He missed one game after getting hit by a pitch in the ankle on Friday.
Also on Wednesday, Manny Machado, who also signed a huge free-agent contract with San Diego in the offseason, hit his first homer of the spring.
The two-run homer came in the first inning off Brandon Woodruff in the Padres’ 10-7 loss to Milwaukee. Machado is batting .176 this spring with four RBIs.