MLB Player News

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper will not play for Double-A Harrisburg Friday, but he will play Saturday and Sunday before making his return to the Nationals Monday, manager Davey Johnson told the Washington Post Friday.

Harper has been out since May 26 while recovering from a knee injury. He is expected to return to the lineup for Monday's series opener against the Brewers.  

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper went 2 for 4 with a walk, triple, two runs and two RBI in the first game of his rehab assignment with Double-A Harrisburg Thursday.

Harper is scheduled to come off the disabled list Monday, but he could rejoin the team this weekend, MASN Sports reports.

"I'll take him whenever he's ready," manager Davey Johnson told reporters Thursday. "I think we just need to talk to him, see how he's feeling. But tomorrow was gonna be (a day off for Harper), then he was gonna go back to playing. So we'll just have to wait and see."

Harper has been out since May 26 with a knee injury.

Cubs general manager Theo Epstein expects outfield prospect Jorge Soler to return in August and make up lost at-bats in the Arizona Fall League, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Soler is out with a stress fracture in his left shin suffered on a foul ball.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper (knee) is expected to play a full game Thursday as he moves his rehab assignment from Class A Potomac to Double-A Harrisburg Thursday, according to The Washington Post. Harper left Wednesday's rehab game after fouling a ball of his right foot, but he's slated to resume his rehab assignment Thursday.

If all goes to plan, Harper will rest Friday before playing again for Harrisburg Saturday. He would then rest again Sunday before returning to the Nationals' lineup Monday.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson confirmed Harper's schedule Thursday.

Cubs outfield prospect Jorge Soler has a stress fracture in his left shin and will be in a walking boot for 4-6 weeks, according to MLB.com. Soler will miss the Futures Game and the Cubs won't say if he is done for the season.

Soler has been sidelined for Class A Daytona since mid-June after fouling a ball off his shin. He had a .281/.467/.810 line in 55 games before getting hurt. He is considered a top-50 prospect by Baseball America (No. 34) and MLB.com (No. 42).

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper homered, but left his second rehab game early after fouling a ball off his foot Wednesday. He was removed as a precaution and is expected to continue his rehab assignment according to schedule, manager Davey Johnson said.

Harper went 1 for 3 with a home run as a designated hitter. He has two hits in his first four at-bats in rehab. He has been out of the Nationals' lineup since May 26 with a knee injury.

Cubs outfield prospect Jorge Soler is scheduled to fly back to Chicago and have his shin examined, MLB.com reports Wednesday.  

Soler was originally listed as day to day for Class A Daytona after fouling a ball off his leg earlier in the week. He hit .281 with eight homers and 35 RBI in 210 at-bats in the minors before getting hurt.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt recorded a pair of extra-base hits in the club's loss Tuesday against Los Angeles.

Belt finished 3 for 4 with a single, double and home run, his eighth. He scored twice and knocked in two runs. Belt now has nine extra-base hits in June and his hitting .295/.353/.462 in 23 games this month.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was able to play three innings Tuesday in his rehab debut for Class A Potomac, in the first step in his return from a knee injury. Harper went 1 for 1 with a walk, and was picked off at second after a double.

Harper will ramp up his workload in the coming days, but the team does not expect him to be ready to return by the start of a weekend series with the Mets. Manager Davey Johnson told MLB.com he hopes Harper can be back with the team by the start of a series against the Brewers next Monday. 

Nationals manager Davey Johnson said he's hoping Bryce Harper can return next week. 

Harper will play in his first rehab game Tuesday. He's recovering from a knee injury, and hasn't played since May 26. Johnson said he thought Harper could return for the upcoming series against the Brewers. That series begins July 1. 

Harper is hitting .287/.386/.587 in 150 at-bats.