Bryce Harper will be playing first base for the Phillies this week

PHILADELPHIA — Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper will be a real thing this week at Citizens Bank Park.

Phillies manager Rob Thompson said Harper was likely to start at least one game against the Brewers at first base. Thompson declined to say what game it will be, but the three-game series begins Tuesday night. Harper’s move from DH to first base will have implications for the 26-man roster, the defense and how the front office operates before the August 1 trade deadline.

When Harper enters the field at first, it will be the first time he has played defense in an MLB game since April 16, 2022, in Miami, when he pitched eight innings in right field. Harper previously played first base twice in his MLB career, once in 2018 and once in 2021, each time for just one hit.

the list
Darick Hall joined the Phillies on July 2 because they needed more pop in the lineup. Hall filled the same role last season, when Harper missed two months due to a broken left thumb. Around the time the Phillies activated Harper off the injured list in August 2022, they selected Hall to Triple-A Lehigh Valley because he would have almost no future playing opportunities.

Thompson said recently that there is a way for Hall to stay with the team once Harper moves to first place, but the Phillies could also be looking for someone with more defensive versatility. Someone like triple offensive lineman Jake Cave or utility linebacker Cody Clemens, both of whom are on the 40-man roster, or utility linebacker Scott Kingery, who isn’t, could fit the description.

Defense
Kyle Schwarber is expected to see more time at the DH, though Harper won’t be playing first base every day—at least not at first. Schwarber ranks last in baseball with -15 points above average, according to Statcast. Thompson has two options to fill Schwarber’s place on the field: He can move Brandon Marsh left and play Johan Rojas center, giving the Phillies their best defensive outfield in years. Or he could try more offense in left field, which means Cave, who is hitting .347 with a 1.118 OPS in 261 plate appearances with Lehigh Valley.

“It depends on the offense, really, who you have,” Thompson said of this decision. “Because for me, defense is very important, because it’s usually steadfast and consistent. Whereas the offense ebbs and flows a lot. I see where you take a guy like Rojas, if he keeps his head above water, and there’s no big upgrade in offense, keep him because you’re going to knock him out.” Jogging only when he’s on the field.”

If Schwarber, Trea Turner, and Harper heat up offensively, offense at the bottom of the lineup won’t matter as much. Meanwhile, with Rojas-Marsh Stadium in place, the benefits to the promotion’s staff could be enormous.

Trade deadline
The formula changes again if the Phillies find a batter to play left field before the trade deadline. Hunter Renfro and Cody Bellinger are among the corner players who may be available.

When asked if Harper could still play right field sometime this year, Thompson said, “If anything, later in the season.”

So this is still on the table?

“Yeah, it’s on edge,” Thompson said.

First things first, though, Harper is mean at first base starting this week.