English
EspañolPhillies notes: Harper takes hot bat to WBC, injury updates, more originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
DUNEDIN, Fla. – Bryce Harper’s final at-bat before heading to the World Baseball Classic resulted in a solo home run Saturday.
Harper, who was set to fly to Phoenix with other area Team USA members on Saturday night, was happy with the way he swung the bat in his first four Grapefruit League games. He left camp 3 for 8 with two doubles, a homer, three walks and four RBIs.
Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Brad Keller and the rest of Team USA will open WBC play Friday night in Houston against Team Brazil.
“It happens quick,” Harper said. “Better hurry up and flip (the switch).”
Team USA will play a couple of exhibition games against big-league clubs in Arizona before heading to Houston, so Harper will get a few more at-bats before the tournament. He likes where his swing is at this early stage of the spring and he wants to keep it there in the WBC — and beyond.
“Just try to quiet down as much as possible, meaning you don’t get so amped up and so excited that your swing goes to crap,” he said. “Just try to stay as calm as I can. The game is going to speed up no matter what. I’ve tried to do that all camp, just trying to get pitches in the zone, swing at strikes and take my walks when I can. I’ve done a pretty good job at that in the first four games I’ve played. Just trying to slow down.”
Harper’s home run came in the fifth inning of a 7-5 loss to Toronto. He hit a 1-1 changeup from former Phillies farmhand Connor Seabold.
“He’s controlling the strike zone and taking his walks,” manager Rob Thomson said of Harper’s early at-bats. “He got the head out on a pitch today and hit the ball out of the ballpark, which is good to see.”
With Team USA, Harper could end up facing some Phillies teammates in the WBC. Taijuan Walker (Mexico), Aaron Nola (Italy) and Cristopher Sanchez (Dominican Republic) will all pitch in the tournament and there’s a chance Jesus Luzardo could opt-in if Venezuela goes deep in the event. At least that’s what he told a Venezuelan news outlet Friday.
“I hope I don’t face Sanchy,” Harper said with a laugh. Sanchez was dominant in two innings of work against Toronto on Saturday.
• Luzardo pitched in a simulated game on Saturday. He will make his first Grapefruit League start Thursday in Clearwater against Boston.
• Reliever Orion Kerkering, slowed by a sore hamstring early in camp, threw a bullpen session Saturday, and all went well. Kerkering is working on a splitter this spring.
“It’s just to add another look,” Thomson said. “He’s got the two-seamer, he’s got the riding fastball, he’s got a slider. Now, you’ve got a ball going straight down if he can master it.”
• Infield prospect Aidan Miller remains out of action with lower back soreness. He has yet to play in Grapefruit League action and there is no timetable for his return. All he is doing baseball-wise is playing light catch.
Sunday is March 1. Time is getting tight for Miller to be ready to open the minor-league season on time.
Thomson acknowledged that Miller was “behind,” but added, “We’ve still got some time.”
Thomson was asked about his level of concern about Miller’s back issue.
“He’s a young kid and I trust our training staff,” Thomson said. “We’re just being precautious.”