Nationals' Bryan Harper: Makes first spring appearance
Rotowire
Harper (elbow) allowed one run on two hits in one inning Saturday against the Marlins.
It appears Harper is back to full health after missing the entire 2017 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He owns a respectable 2.84 ERA across 25.1 innings with Triple-A Syracuse, but he'll likely require a couple of injuries to the Nationals' bullpen if he wants to break camp with the big club this season.
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Nationals' Bryan Harper: Gets spring training invite
Rotowire
Harper (elbow) signed a minor-league deal with the Nationals which includes an invitation to spring training, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.
Harper missed the entire 2017 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. The left-handed reliever had been on the cusp of the big leagues after pitching 21.1 Triple-A innings in 2016 with a 2.95 ERA. The 28-year-old has struck out eight batters per nine innings in 214.2 career minor-league innings and owns a 3.65 minor-league ERA. He'll likely require some injuries ahead of him on the depth chart if he is to join younger brother Bryce on the Nationals' major-league roster.
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Nationals' Bryan Harper: Undergoes Tommy John surgery
Rotowire
Harper underwent Tommy John surgery in early November, the Washington Post's Chelsea Janes reports.
Harper, who is Bryce's older brother, had finally pushed his way onto the big league radar for the first time during the 2016 season, so this is pretty unfortunate. The lefty reliever reached Triple-A and posted a 2.95 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 20:11 K:BB in 21.1 innings before being shut down late in the year. He will miss all of the 2017 season, but should be ready for spring training in 2018.
