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CLEARWATER, Fla. — A lot of the Phillies’ starters have been within the lineup Wednesday and it was a pleasant little early take a look at for the bats, dealing with upper-90s velocity from Braves right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver.
Smith-Shawver threw 11 pitches starting from 97 to 99 mph and the Phillies confirmed no indicators of being ill-prepared for that form of velocity on February 28.
Of their first at-bats of the spring, J.T. Realmuto homered 379 ft to left, Bryce Harper singled to proper and Alec Bohm hit a 418-foot two-run shot.
Realmuto got here up an inning later and almost took Smith-Shawver deep a second time, flying out 392 ft to the wall in heart.
Not a nasty first journey by means of the order.
“Felt good. First day of spring, simply attempting to see pitches and have good at-bats and good swings,” Harper stated. “Timing is off slightly bit. Fairly anticipated. Nevertheless it was good to be again on the market.”
Harper made two good defensive performs to rob Jarred Kelenic. Within the first inning, Harper dove to his proper, fielded a hard-hit groundball and made a toss to beginning pitcher Tyler Phillips for a 3-1 putout.
Within the third inning, Harper began a wonderfully executed 3-6 double play, stepping on the primary base bag and firing a strike to Weston Wilson.
“It was good to leap proper into the fireplace,” he stated. “Get a pair fairly scorching ones at you.”
“Each (performs) have been actually good,” supervisor Rob Thomson added. “He bought caught misplaced on one play the place he went after the ball and Whit fielded it. These are going to occur at instances and he is nonetheless working his approach by means of that. However he appears actually snug and he is enhancing day-after-day.”
Harper performed effectively defensively at first base within the remaining two months of 2023 after studying the place on the fly throughout his early-season rehab from Tommy John surgical procedure.
With a full offseason of psychological preparation, a full spring of labor with revered infield coach Bobby Dickerson and the data that first base shall be his place long run, Harper has an opportunity to grow to be one of many majors’ higher first basemen. The instruments are all there.
“Sky is the restrict for me as a result of he is athletic and he is a baseball participant,” Thomson stated. “He is calm, poised, he is bought a fantastic coach in Bobby Dickerson. Plenty of good issues may occur.”
One of many finer factors of taking part in first base that Harper remains to be studying is the place to be on performs that do not contain him. When and the place to again up a throw. The suitable spot on cutoffs.
“I used to be really extra glad in regards to the positional stuff,” he stated. “A ball down the right-field line, the place I must be. I did not get caught watching the sport like I accomplish that actually because I like watching guys make good performs. These are the moments that I nonetheless have to study. A ball within the hole, trailing guys. A ball down the road, ensuring the man touches first base. Understanding the place I must be. These are the large moments that I really want to grasp. I bought caught slightly bit final yr watching some performs and forgetting I am the cutoff man right here. Studying these kind of issues.”
Wednesday was the five-year anniversary of Harper’s signing with the Phillies. A lot has occurred since. Disappointing workforce outcomes early. A season shortened by a pandemic. A lockout. An MVP award. Two deep playoff runs. A collection of high-priced veteran additions.
“I really feel just like the older you get, it goes faster, proper? I am simply so lucky,” he stated. “I am so grateful that I am a Philadelphia Phillie. Only for the pure proven fact that 5 years in the past, we did not know the place I used to be going to be. That is the one factor that everyone at all times talked about after I was in D.C. The place’s he going to go? The place’s he going to go? The place’s he going to finish up? What’s he going to do? Is he going to remain? Is he going to go? And I am so grateful I’ve the deal that I do and I do know that I will be right here. Simply very lucky to be a Phillie. Simply excited for issues forward.”
