Harper inching closer to return

As Bryce Harper fielded ground balls with a first baseman’s mitt some 90 feet away, Rob Thomson managed to say the word “encouraged” three times in 90 seconds in appraising his slugger’s rehab progress.

So encouraged that the next and perhaps last step to Harper stepping into a major league batter’s box is clearance from doctors in an appointment around May 1.

Thomson said it doesn’t look like Harper will require a minor league rehab assignment before playing in the bigs again, and that the $330 million man progressed to throwing from 60 feet Thursday before a series opener with Colorado.

“He’s still getting his timing down, but he looks really good,” Thomson said. “He looks good working at first base. He threw out to 60 feet today, the first day he’s really hard a throwing program. He’s coming along.”

Harper has done three live batting sessions, against Ranger Suarez and minor leaguer Victor Vargas. He’s also been hitting high-velocity batting practice. All that leaves it clearance to slide, which must come from his doctor in Los Angeles. (The Phillies visit the Dodgers May 1-3.)

As has been the plan all along, since Harper had Tommy John on the ligament in his right (throwing) elbow in November, he’ll return first as a designated hitter. Playing the field at first is “down the road,” and returning to the outfield is further still. None of that can happen before the clearance to slide, which poses a risk to his elbow.

Thomson and the Phillies staff appear to be getting everything in line before that appointment to be able to accelerate when he gets cleared.

“The plan is that we cover everything we need to cover prior to that, and then we talk to the doctor and figure out when it’s the best time to start DHing,” Thomson said. “… If we get clearance from the doctor, we’ll see when he can start DHing. But it shouldn’t be too far after that.”