Bryce Harper likely to return to Phillies as strictly a designated hitter

Bryce Harper isn’t ready to hit the accelerator on his return to the field for the Phillies. And when he does get back, it’ll likely be as a designated hitter. Harper continues to hit off a tee but hasn’t regained flexibility in his healing left thumb to progress to facing pitching, interim manager Rob Thomson said Tuesday. Further, the Phillies are “cutting back” on Harper’s throwing program because of what Thomson characterized as “stiffness” in his right elbow. “We’re just going to back off it for a minute,” Thomson said, “and just concentrate on the hitting.” Getting Harper back in the lin…

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