Phillies notes on Bryce Harper, Darick Hall, Dylan Covey

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

Harper has been throwing out to 90 feet and will sooner or later graduate to 120 feet, but the Phillies are getting 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 danger re-aggravation.

Covey to start off Sunday

Dylan Covey will make his initial start off as a Phillie on Sunday Evening Baseball against the Braves, opposite MLB strikeout leader Spencer Strider.

No stress.

Covey pitched pretty effectively in his Phillies debut Tuesday, permitting a single 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 — a single with the Phillies and a single 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 area on the 40-man roster for the 26-year-old Stevenson.

“Speed guy, a lot more of a defender,” Thomson mentioned. “He’s hit in the minor leagues, not in the majors. Walks a lot more than he strikes out. He’s bounced about very a bit, so teams like him, it 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 have to have to earn his way back

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

The Phillies utilised Hall as a initial baseman against correct-handed pitching in the season’s initial week and initial base is the only spot for him now with Harper DH’ing each and every day. 

“He’s got to go down and carry out initial and make positive he’s healthier and develop innings,” Thomson mentioned. “I know he comes off the 60-day on June five, but he’s got some games he wants to get below his belt.”

Kody Clemens, one more left-handed hitter, has began 11 of the Phillies’ final 28 games at initial base and created in these begins, hitting .316 with 4 homers, two doubles and ten RBI.

“He’s swung the bat effectively, played strong defense,” Thomson mentioned. “The moment’s not as well major for him.”