To comprehend the degree of difficulty in what Bryce Harper did last week — five hits, including two home runs, in 10 triple-A at-bats, followed by a two-run single in his first major league plate appearance in 61 days and a hit in each of the Phillies’ two subsequent games — let’s consult one of the few people on the planet who can speak from experience.
“It’s not an easy thing to do,” Chase Utley said by phone Sunday during a break from his family vacation on the French Riviera, “especially with the amount of time that he’s missed. But listen, we all know Bryce Harper is a special talent, one that we haven’t seen or maybe won’t see for quite some time. He’s an MVP player. So, it doesn’t surprise me that he’s able to lock it in so quickly.”
Utley would know a little bit about that. He traveled almost the same road back.
