CLEARWATER, FL — Bryce Harper was sitting in the Phillies dugout when teammate, Rhys Hoskins, tore his anterior cruciate ligament. He hoped the injury wasn’t as bad as it looked, and texted Hoskins after the game to be sure.
“He called me two hours later and told me what happened,” Harper said Saturday. “We told him we love him. If he needs anything, we are here for him. Absolutely amazing.”
Read more: Trea Turner is ‘the next Chase Utley in Philadelphia’: Charlie Manuel conjures up the Phillies legend
Hoskins was in and out of the Phillies club on Saturday afternoons. Harper expects to be the Phillies’ first baseman around the team as often as he can. Hoskins will get a second opinion on his left knee soon, but it’s possible he’ll undergo an ACL reconstruction that will sideline him for the season.
“He’s one of those guys,” Harper said. “We all call him our captain. We all call him Mr. Feely for a reason. He’s the man. Anytime anybody has a question, we go to him. Any time the media wants to talk, we go to him. He’s been our captain here for as long as he’s been here. Since I’ve been here He is our man.
“He’s a great teammate, a great person. He’s one of the best players I’ve been around.”
Read more: Rhys Hoskins tore his anterior cruciate ligament. Here’s what you need to know about the Phillies’ starting linebacker injury.
An update on Harper’s rehabilitation
Harper, who had Tommy John surgery in November, was at Schmidt Field in the Phillies’ Carpenter Complex on Saturday morning, fielding ground balls with outfield coach Bobby Dickerson and first base coach Paco Figueroa. Harper has been standing behind first base, causing some to speculate whether or not he’ll get court time this season, but his coaches say that’s not the plan.
“They just get the gauntlet work, the gauntlet width, the gauntlet work,” Dickerson said. “It’s been a while since he’s been getting caught on the ground and stuff, so he’s trying to work on some technique, so when he starts throwing again he’s a little bit ahead.”
Harper arrived in Clearwater on March 9 and has worked out training with Figueroa ever since. The two worked every day off mitts, base runs, and ground balls.
Harper’s next step would be to work on his angles on the court; Drop the steps, shoot flying balls and live engines. But for now, Figueroa doesn’t know when that will happen.
“He looks great, he’s excited, he’s back on his feet again,” said Figueroa. “If I’ve had injuries before, it’s hard, because he sees his teammates prepping for the season. His presence alone is huge for us. He’s a guy I tell everyone – I’m lucky because he loves to work. He’s very hard at his job. He’s chasing after it.”
Harper said his work on the field—and his throwing and hitting program—is determined by the Phillies’ coaching staff, led by athletic coach Paul Bouchet.
“It just depends on what Paul thinks,” Harper said. “As much as it pushes me forward, it also pulls me back. So, I just really try to listen to it and listen to the doctors, Dr. [Neal] Atrash, to make sure we are all on the same page. They know what’s best for me so I just try to follow that as much as possible.”
Update goalkeeper Suarez
Phillies left fielder Ranger Suarez hasn’t come off the mound since March 8, when he felt tenderness in his left forearm while pitching for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. He had a bullpen session scheduled on Wednesday that was scratched by a sore left elbow, but played on Friday and Saturday.
Suarez said it went well. He felt a slight tightness in his arm, but “nothing bad.” He is not sure when his next session will take place.
extra rules
Just hours after Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski announced that contract negotiations with Aaron Nola had been paused, Nola took the mound at BayCare Ballpark in his last Grapefruit League start in spring training. It didn’t go well. Nola allowed seven runs (five earned runs) over 1 and 2/3 innings against the Yankees, with one walk, in the Phillies’ final 8-3 loss to the Yankees on Saturday. … Right fielder Nick Castellanos hit a home run off Yankees pitcher (and former Philly) James Norwood in the bottom of the sixth inning. This was Castellanos’ third home run of the spring. … Garrett Stubbs, who left the WBC early with a right knee injury, is scheduled to take a trip to Sarasota, Florida, on Sunday to take on the Orioles. He says he feels ready for opening day. “I took a few backhands and then got into today’s game, behind the plate,” he said. “Everything was fine.” … Manager Rob Thompson said the Phillies plan to announce their Opening Day lineup on Monday.
Read more: Phillies press pause on Aaron Nola’s contract extension talks, for now
“Coffee ninja. Web fan. Hipster-friendly beer enthusiast. Professional creator.”