Phillies notes on Bryce Harper, Darick Hall, Dylan Covey

ATLANTA — Bryce Harper continues to make progress throwing but is unlikely to play very first base prior to the All-Star break, Phillies manager Rob Thomson stated prior to Friday’s game against the Braves.

Harper has been throwing out to 90 feet and will ultimately graduate to 120 feet, but the Phillies are becoming cautious. Throwing is the final piece of his rehab from Tommy John surgery, and with his bat currently in the lineup in the designated hitter spot, the Phillies do not want to rush him back to the field and threat re-aggravation.

Covey to begin Sunday

Dylan Covey will make his very first begin as a Phillie on Sunday Evening Baseball against the Braves, opposite MLB strikeout leader Spencer Strider.

No stress.

Covey pitched extremely properly in his Phillies debut Tuesday, enabling one particular run to the Diamondbacks more than 5 innings with six strikeouts. Covey’s lone run scored instantly as he was greeted with a single and a triple, but he held the D-backs in verify from there.

He threw 91 pitches in that outing and is constructed up to attain or exceed one hundred.

Covey has appeared in just two games this season — one particular with the Phillies and one particular with the Dodgers earlier in the month. Altogether, he’s provided up 3 runs more than nine innings with nine strikeouts and two walks.

Phillies claim an outfielder

The Phillies claimed outfielder Cal Stevenson off waivers from the San Francisco Giants and optioned him to Triple A. 

Rule five pitcher Noah Song (low back strain) was transferred to the 60-day injured list to make space on the 40-man roster for the 26-year-old Stevenson.

“Speed guy, extra of a defender,” Thomson stated. “He’s hit in the minor leagues, not in the majors. Walks extra than he strikes out. He’s bounced about very a bit, so teams like him, it really is just a matter of roster management and he’s DFA’d or traded.”

Stevenson appeared in 23 games with the Athletics final season and went ten-for-60 (.167) with 3 doubles. He was -for-9 with 3 walks in six games with the Giants.

Hall will require to earn his way back

Darick Hall could start a rehab assignment early subsequent week and is eligible to return from the 60-day IL on June five, but he will require to hit his way back to the spot he opened the season with.

The Phillies employed Hall as a very first baseman against suitable-handed pitching in the season’s very first week and very first base is the only spot for him now with Harper DH’ing just about every day. 

“He’s got to go down and carry out very first and make positive he’s healthier and create innings,” Thomson stated. “I know he comes off the 60-day on June five, but he’s got some games he requirements to get beneath his belt.”

Kody Clemens, a further left-handed hitter, has began 11 of the Phillies’ final 28 games at very first base and developed in these begins, hitting .316 with 4 homers, two doubles and ten RBI.

“He’s swung the bat properly, played strong defense,” Thomson stated. “The moment’s not as well massive for him.”