Harper hits two home runs, feels comfortable

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Bryce Harper is tuning up quite nicely with Opening Day approaching.

He crushed two home runs in Thursday afternoon’s 13-6 victory over the Blue Jays at Spectrum Field. He ripped a line-drive, two-run home run to right field in the first inning, and a towering solo homer to right and out of the ballpark in the sixth. He is hitting .231 (3-for-13) with two homers, three RBIs, six walks, seven strikeouts and a 1.192 OPS this spring.

“We have a couple more days,” Harper said, about feeling comfortable at the plate. “Of course we’ll be ready for March 28. I feel good right now. The swing feels good. The timing is coming along. I’ll take the next couple days and really solidify that timing and get to it.”

“He kind of showed why he’s one of the best offensive players in baseball,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said.

Harper also walked and scored on J.T. Realmuto’s two-run homer in the fourth. Andrew McCutchen, Andrew Knapp and Gift Ngoepe also homered for the Phillies in the matchup.

“I think everybody looks pretty great,” Harper said. “We’re all excited to get up north.”

Williams plays center field
Kapler said recently that Nick Williams will not play center field this season, but they gave him a look there on Thursday.

Williams is expected to make the Opening Day roster as their No. 1 weapon off the bench, but with Harper and McCutchen expected to play nearly every day at the corners, and some combination of Odubel Herrera and Aaron Altherr in center field -- Roman Quinn will open the season on the injured list -- plate appearances for Williams could be difficult to find.

“Who’s that lefty that’s going to bang a home run or hit a double in the gap?” Kapler said. “Right now, Nick looks like that option. But it’s also possible that he gets a start here and there in left and right field, and obviously he was out there in center field for a reason. We want to see if he’s an option at some point.”

Anderson, Cozens optioned
The Phillies optioned right-hander Drew Anderson to Triple-A as one of 10 roster moves Thursday.

Anderson had an excellent spring, and probably is the first or second call to the big leagues, if the Phillies’ rotation needs help. (Right-hander Jerad Eickhoff is the other top choice.) Anderson, 24, went 2-0 with a 0.71 ERA in four Grapefruit League starts. He struck out 12 and walked two in 12 2/3 innings.

Anderson developed a cutter a few weeks ago, and it has been remarkably effective.

The Phillies also optioned outfielder Dylan Cozens and left-hander James Pazos, who the Phillies acquired in December from Seattle in the Jean Segura trade. Cozens hit .256 (10-for-39) with four home runs, seven RBIs, four walks, 15 strikeouts and a .941 OPS. The team reassigned outfielder Adam Haseley to Minor League camp and released catcher Drew Butera; left-handers Edward Paredes and Jeremy Bleich; infielders Trevor Plouffe, Gregorio Petit and Andrew Romine.

Butera and Romine exercised an opt-out clause Thursday. They would have received a $100,000 retention bonus if they were not placed on the 25-man roster or released.

Infielder Sean Rodriguez also exercised his opt-out Thursday. The Phillies have until Saturday to make a decision on him. If he is not added to the roster, he can ask to be released. He could make the team, if the Phillies decide to carry an extra player on the bench. But the Phillies then would need to remove somebody from the 40-man roster to make space for him.

Outfielders Shane Robinson and Lane Adams and infielders Phil Gosselin, Ngoepe and Matt McBride have been told they will not make the Opening Day roster, but they will remain with the team through Monday. They will report to Minor League camp on Tuesday.

Up next
Phillies right-hander Jerad Eickhoff (0-0, 5.40 ERA) faces Yankees right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga (2-1, 7.50 ERA) on Friday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. ET.