Bryce Harper cleared to rejoin Philadelphia Phillies on Friday after successful rehab stint

PHILADELPHIA — Reigning National League MVP Bryce Harper is set to start for the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night, just two months after his left thumb was broken by a pitch.

Phillies interim manager Rob Thomson announced Harper's impending return from the injured list Thursday after consulting with the star.

«One, you get a great hitter back,» Thomson said before a game against Cincinnati. «But he's also healthy. That's really important to us. To get another batter in that lineup makes a lot [of difference]… everyone knows how great a hitter he is.»

Harper was 5-for-8 with two home runs, two doubles and six RBIs in a two-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. His minor league stint was originally expected to last through the weekend but instead ended after a game-winning RBI double in the ninth inning Wednesday night.

«It all depended on how he felt seeing pitches, his timing and how comfortable he was in the box,» Thomson said.

Harper took off Thursday to recover from some soreness, but he is set to be the designated hitter when the Phillies host Pittsburgh to start a three-game weekend series.

«His body was sore just in general, so it was like fifth day in spring training, which is understandable given he's been out for two months,» Thomson said. «We told him to take a day and come here to work out. And we'll activate him tomorrow.»

The two-time NL MVP was hitting .318 with 15 homers and 48 RBIs when a fastball from San Diego's Blake Snell on June 25 broke the thumb. He is likely to spend the rest of this season as Philadelphia's designated hitter since a small tear in the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow has kept him out of right field since April.

Since Harper's departure, Philadelphia