Harper (elbow) has been medically cleared and is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, when he'll likely serve as the Phillies' designated hitter against the Dodgers, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Harper visited with Dr. Neal ElAttrache -- the physician who performed his Tommy John surgery Nov. 23 -- on Monday and was officially given the green light to return to game action in a non-defensive role. Even for a position player, Harper's recovery from Tommy John surgery has been remarkably quick, as he had initially been projected to be out until around the All-Star break. Harper has been working out at first base in the event the Phillies want to ease him into the field at that position, though it'll probably be a while before he's anything other than a DH. While Harper's bat could be a little rusty following a long layoff and no rehab assignment, fantasy managers and the Phillies will certainly welcome the slugger back into their lineups.

Harper (elbow) will see a doctor Monday and expects to return to the Phillies' lineup Tuesday against the Dodgers if he's cleared, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Harper underwent Tommy John surgery last November and was initially targeting a return around the All-Star break, but if he's cleared to suit up Tuesday, he'd beat that projection by over two months. The 30-year-old would serve exclusively as a designated hitter upon his return, but his clearance would provide a significant boost to the Phillies' lineup. He hit .286 with 18 home runs, 65 RBI, 63 runs and 11 stolen bases over 99 games last year.

Harper (elbow) hit on the field with his Phillies teammates Friday in Houston, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

EDGE Analysis

Harper will do that again Sunday ahead of what will be a crucial follow-up appointment with Dr. Neal ElAttrache early next week in Los Angeles. ElAttrache performed Tommy John surgery on Harper last November and current the belief is that the 30-year-old slugger might be cleared to return as the Phillies' designated hitter as early as next weekend if all parties involved feel it's a safe idea. The initial expectation -- at the time of the reconstructive elbow procedure -- is that Harper would be sidelined until the All-Star break.

Harper (elbow) could return at designated hitter for the Phillies as soon as the first weekend of May, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Harper will be examined by Dr. Neal ElAttrache -- who performed his Tommy John surgery last November -- in Los Angeles while the Phillies are there for a series against the Dodgers at the beginning of May. The team is prepared to have Harper skip a rehab assignment, so he could return shortly after the doctor visit if he gets the green light. "If we get clearance from the doctor, then we'll see when he can start DHing," manager Rob Thomson said Thursday. "But it shouldn't be too far after that." Harper played catch Thursday and has been working out at first base with the thought that he might be able to play that position sooner than right field. He's likely to be a DH only for a while though, and he is currently able to swing a bat without restrictions. The last potential hurdle to being able to DH is full-intensity slides, including dives back into first base on a pickoff attempt, because his reconstructed elbow is still at risk of rupturing. Harper returning in early May or shortly after would mean making it back less than six months after surgery and more than two months before the initial All-Star break timeline the Phillies established the day of the operation.

Harper (elbow) made throws from 60 feet Thursday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Harper also took batting practice and incorporated the pitch clock for the first time. One of his BP homers nearly hit the screen displaying the count well beyond the center field fence at Citizens Bank Park. There's still no exact timetable, but Harper continues to push toward a swift return from Tommy John surgery. Word from Phillies manager Rob Thomson is that the 30-year-old slugger will be allowed to skip a minor-league rehab assignment and jump right back in as the team's everyday DH whenever doctors clear him for live action. He's been getting reps at first base in recent workouts, though that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be immediately be seeing game reps at the position.

Harper (elbow) is scheduled to take live batting practice against Ranger Suarez (forearm) on Tuesday, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

EDGE Analysis

It will be the first time Harper faces a left-hander in his ongoing recovery from Tommy John surgery. He took at-bats against right-hander Nick Nelson (hamstring) over the weekend. Harper still has a lot of hurdles to clear and there is no exact timetable for a return, but recent reports suggest that he might be allowed to skip a minor-league rehab assignment and jump back onto the Phillies' active roster before June.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson told reporters Saturday that Harper (elbow) may not take part in a rehab assignment in the minor leagues, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Harper echoed those sentiments in a conversation with Lauber, noting that he believes he can get his timing down without necessarily reporting to the minors. The two-time MVP is working back from Tommy John surgery, and it's been recently reported that he'll work at first base in an attempt to get on the field quickly, though his first games this season will almost definitely be as the designated hitter. Whether Harper goes on a rehab assignment or not, it seems likely that the 30-year-old star will be back with the Phillies and helping fantasy teams in the summer months as long as there are not setbacks.

Harper (elbow) will learn first base in an attempt to return to the field sooner, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

With Rhys Hoskins out for the season and Darick Hall slated to miss at least two months, putting Harper at first base would be very beneficial in solving the Phillies' depth issues at first. However, Harper's new position doesn't affect his timetable for returning to Philadelphia's lineup, as he will be cleared to serve as Philly's designated hitter before getting cleared to throw and play in the outfield.

Harper (elbow) took grounders and performed modified sliding drills Tuesday, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

EDGE Analysis

Harper also continues to move through a hitting progression that now includes high-velocity batting cage work. The biggest concern right now for the Phillies is that Harper might rupture his surgically-repaired UCL on a slide, and so they're drawing up ways to prevent that. The superstar slugger has a followup appointment later this month with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who performed his Tommy John surgery last November. The current belief is that he might be able to return to MLB competition sometime in late May.

Harper (elbow) took batting practice on the field before Wednesday's game against the Yankees, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

It's a positive step for Harper as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery he underwent in November. Matt Gelb of The Athletic cautions that Harper still has several hurdles to clear before being deemed ready for game action, as he has yet to be cleared to slide into bases since doctors believe there's still some risk of him rupturing the surgically-repaired elbow. Harper could be back from the 10-day injured list as soon as the latter part of May, as the Phillies' decision not to put him on the 60-day IL to begin the season had already implied.