Bryce Harper has made his debut in the first base for the Philadelphia Phillies, and the consensus is he made a good account of himself.
Harper and the Phillies had his transition planned since April, and the preparations bore fruit when he manned that position during the first game in the series with the Cleveland Guardians.
Manager Rob Thomson liked what he saw from Harper despite losing in the first two games.
"He's an athlete, and he's a baseball player," he said.
"He watches the game, he's a student. He looks like he's been there before."
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Rhys Hoskins, the guy Harper is expected to replace on the defensive end eventually, also praised Harper for putting the team above himself.
"It's a need for the team, so he's just trying to do what he can to put the team in the best position to win," he said.
"You don't normally see guys do this halfway through their career, let alone a future Hall of Famer."
The grand plan in Harper's first base assignment
The decision to have the two-time National League MVP transition from the outfield to first base is part of a grander scheme.
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Harper occupying the first base would give them more room to make movements in other positions.
"If Bryce can move to first base, it allows us to free up the DH spot and put Kyle [Schwarber] there a little bit more, and then, we have the ability to decide what we want to do in left field -- or the outfield, period," Dombrowski said on Wednesday.
"Really, what we're looking for a little bit is somebody that can swing the bat from the right-hand side, but not just any position, either."
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