Dressed in a tan suit and flanked by two Las Vegas showgirls, Bryce Harper held a microphone to his mouth with his left hand and gave the order, “Drivers, start your engines!”
He raised his right index finger and pretended to turn a car key. With that, Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race got underway at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Harper’s hometown.
On Wednesday, Harper will travel to Clearwater, Fla., to begin spring training, which has been delayed as the Philadelphia Phillies slugger recovers from reconstructive surgery on his right elbow. How quickly he can accelerate is TBD.
The two-time National League MVP had surgery Nov. 23, a month after sending the Phillies to the World Series with a spectacular two-run homer late in the eighth inning in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series against the San Diego. padres.
After his surgery, the Phillies said Harper should return to the roster as the all-star break designated hitter and could return to right field by the end of the regular season.
Harper, 30, will have some catching up to do when she arrives in Florida. His teammates have adapted to the new pitch clock, part of Major League Baseball’s efforts to speed up the game.
“It’s going to be a different game, of course, especially with myself and a lot of guys who’ve been playing for a long time,” Harper said during a press conference at the speedway. “It’s going to be different seeing baseball on a clock, but it’s something we’ll have to adapt to. We will see what will happen in the future. I look forward to progressing in this area as and when I can.
He injured his elbow in April and last played on the right court on April 16. He received a platelet-rich plasma injection in May and became a full-time designated hitter to finish the season, helping lead the Phillies to their first World Series since 2009.
They lost to the Houston Astros in six games, but Harper had a stellar playoff run, batting .349 with six home runs and 13 RBIs in 17 games.
Harper also missed time last year with a broken left thumb after being hit by a pitch from San Diego’s Blake Snell in late June.
THE RAYS FILL THE WILLS
The Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday mourned the death of Dave Wills, 58, who had been the team’s radio announcer for 18 years. There was no radio broadcast of the team’s game against Baltimore.
“Dave was an outstanding broadcaster, a great friend and an even better person,” Rays owner Stuart Sternberg said. “He had a remarkable talent for bringing the game to life for our fans and was a vital part of the Rays family. He will be greatly missed and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time. »
Wills called some of the most memorable moments in Rays history, including the team’s runs at the World Series in 2008 and 2020.
NO DISCIPLINE FOR CLEVINGER
The MLMB said it would not sanction Chicago White Sox right-hander Mike Clevinger after completing its investigation into the domestic violence allegations. The commissioner’s office said in a statement that its investigation included interviews with more than 15 people, including Clevinger and a woman who said she was the mother of Clevinger’s child, as well as thousands of electronic communications and other documents.
Clevinger has agreed to submit to joint salary board evaluations under the collective agreement and to follow any recommendations, according to the statement.
“I had nothing to hide and cooperated fully with MLB,” Clevinger said in a statement released by the players’ union. “This situation has been stressful for my family, and I thank them for their strength and support. I’ve asked everyone not to rush to judgment until the MLB investigation is complete, and I appreciate everyone who believed in me, including the White Sox organization and my teammates.
Clevinger, 32, finalized a one-year, $12 million deal with Chicago in December. MLB’s investigation predates its deal with the White Sox. Clevinger pitched for Cleveland from 2016 until he was traded to the San Diego Padres during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
MADBUM PITCHES
Arizona Diamondbacks southpaw Madison Bumgarner spent his first Cactus League outing experimenting with the PitchCom device. He allowed two runs on two hits in three innings.
Bumgarner wore the pitch call device on his belt but will try it in his glove next time.
“I liked calling my own pitches. We kind of split it,” Bumgarner said, referring to wide receiver Gabriel Moreno. “Next time it might be a little easier. I wish we had a microphone where we could talk to each other. It would be perfect, I think.
Bumgarner, entering his 15th major league season, said the clock is just another thing he has to get used to.
“I think it will become more and more fluid,” Bumgarner said. “No matter how many years I’ve been here, that’s probably where there’s been the most change. Everyone plays by the same rules, but the pitch clock is probably the one I like best.
TRANSACTION
The Detroit Tigers and right-hander Trevor Rosenthal have agreed to terms on a minor league deal that includes an invite to major league spring training. Rosenthal has missed most of the past two seasons through injury. In his last big league action of 2020, he played 23 games between Kansas City and San Diego, going 1-0 with 11 saves and a 1.90 ERA.
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