Bryce Harper is set to ring the bell for Philadelphia.
The two-time NL MVP is set to make his return to the diamond on Tuesday in Los Angeles, capping a miraculous and fast recovery from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in November.
Harper's return is something of a miracle of modern medicine: The original timeline for the outfielder had him back around the All-Star break, but he returns to the field in less than six months. He even blew past GM Dave Dombrowski's original estimate of a late-May season debut, instead coming back on May 2.
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Phillies fans expecting the full Harper experience will have to wait a few months, though. Here's why, and here's how Harper made his comeback:
What was Bryce Harper's injury?
In May 2022, Harper was diagnosed with a partially torn UCL in his throwing arm. Typically, pitchers suffer UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) injuries, and undergo Tommy John surgery as soon as possible to rectify the issue.
Harper, though, didn't land on the IL with the injury in 2022, instead playing through it and serving only as a designated hitter for the duration of the season. In November, Harper underwent Tommy John surgery, which typically sidelines pitchers for over a year, but position players recover on a shorter timeline.
How did Bryce Harper recover so quickly?
Really, it's a matter of Harper being a pretty quick healer. Harper continued his rehab with the team, as opposed to private rehab, so his work was overseen by Phillies team doctors. That may have quickened his timeline a bit.
As mentioned, pitchers usually have a longer recovery timeline, typically returning to action in about a year, and sometimes longer. Hitters don't need as long a recovery window.
Still, Harper returning in under six months is a record, with his 159-day recovery window surpassing infielder Tony Womack's 182-day return in 2004. The Phillies said at the time of Harper's surgery that he likely would be back around the All-Star break in July.
There's something of a catch, though: Harper is only returning as a hitter, as he's not yet cleared to field just yet. Harper will continue to just DH as he waits for clearance to throw without restrictions.
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Bryce Harper injury timeline
May 12, 2022: Harper is diagnosed with a partially torn UCL in his throwing arm. He misses a few games, but avoids an IL stint.
May 15, 2022: After a few days, Harper is treated with a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in his arm, and the team subsequently decides to keep him solely at DH for the remainder of the 2023 season.
June 25, 2022: Harper is hit in the hand by a Blake Snell pitch, and he is placed on the injured list with a fractured thumb and undergoes surgery.
Aug. 26, 2022: Harper returns to the lineup and helps the Phillies make a run to the World Series, where they fall to the Astros in six games.
Nov. 23, 2022: Harper undergoes Tommy John surgery to repair the UCL in his right (throwing) arm. It's announced he'll miss roughly half of the 2023 season while recovering.
March 21, 2023: Phillies GM Dave Dombrowski says that the team still hasn't placed Harper on the 60-day IL, keeping a door open for a return earlier than the All-Star break projection.
April 5, 2023: Harper takes batting practice at Yankee Stadium ahead of the Phillies season opener.
April 20, 2023: Harper throws from 60 feet, passing another checkpoint in his recovery timeline. Still, Harper won't return to the field in the immediate.
May 1, 2023: Doctors clear Harper for a return to the field, with 159 days since he underwent his Tommy John surgery.