Bryce Harper worked a miracle in 2023.
When the Phillies strolled into Clearwater in late February last year, they did so with the knowledge they would be without Harper, their best player, for at least the first two months of the season. The most realistic timetable for Harper’s return from Tommy John surgery was the All Star break.
And that all made sense. Harper couldn’t throw a baseball from the outfield and, even as a designated hitter, Tommy John surgery routinely requires a few months for the elbow to heal long enough to swing a bat effectively.