Blue Jays 13, Phillies 7: Bryce Harper ends spring training just like he started it

Bryce Harper homered in his first swing of spring training, so it was only fitting that he did the same Monday with his last hack before flying north to Philadelphia.

Harper went 2-for-3 in a 13-7 loss to Toronto and drove a 375-foot homer to right in the fourth inning before being subbed out of the Phillies’ Grapefruit League finale. The Phillies, who open the regular season on Thursday, went 12-15-1 this spring.

Harper led the Phillies this spring in average (.343), home runs (4), and OPS (1.249) in 44 plate appearances. He focused this offseason on strengthening his back after it bothered him enough last September that he was unable to throw a baseball. Harper looked healthy at the plate this spring.

His roommate, prospect Bryson Stott, hit a 430-foot homer to end a promising spring training. The 2019 first-round pick will begin the season in the minors.

» READ MORE: He was a higher-ranked prospect than Bryce Harper. Now Matt Moore is just happy they’re teammates.

Harper’s first homer of spring traveled 362 feet on March 5 against the Pirates. He said then that he didn’t put too much stock in spring homers. He cared more about the quality of the at-bat and how he felt at the plate. Perhaps he cares, too, about synergy.

Zach Eflin pitched in a Grapefruit League game for the first time since feeling discomfort in his back on March 13. He completed five innings, allowed one earned run, struck out three, and said he was pain-free.

Eflin is expected to play an important role this season, and keeping him healthy is paramount. He labeled his injury as “precautionary” and said the discomfort was in a different spot than previous back ailments. He is scheduled to start Sunday in the third game of the season.

» READ MORE: How Jimmy Rollins, Ruben Amaro Jr., and ‘an insider’ helped the Phillies land Zach Eflin

“It was just like a lower back injury,” Eflin said. “I felt a little pop and it stiffened up on me. I’m not concerned with it at all. I did it out in the bullpen when I was throwing more pitches and I kind of landed funky and it was just a really awkward pitch. ... But I’m not concerned about it. I just went out there and threw five innings and didn’t feel a thing.”

Hector Neris’ velocity was down in his inning of work and he allowed a two-run homer to 19-year-old prospect Orelvis Martinez. Neris’ fastball topped out at just 92.1 mph, about three ticks slower than normal.

Neris is a key piece of the team’s rebuilt bullpen as he’s one of the contenders to close. Manager Joe Girardi said his velocity dip is not a concern.

“I think he was struggling with the mound,” Girardi said. “And he probably should’ve told us he was struggling with the mound before the inning because it was pretty wet out there.”

Adam Haseley went 2-for-3 as he made one last impression before the Phillies decide a winner of their center-field competition. Roman Quinn and Odubel Herrera both came off the bench and went 0-for-2. Girardi said after the game that the Phillies are nearing a decision.

Jose Alvarado ended a strong spring with another rough outing. He retired just two of the six batters he faced and allowed a three-run homer to Santiago Espinal. Alvarado, as he has done all spring, threw hard as his sinker averaged 99 mph, but the Blue Jays were able to catch up with it. The left-hander was the biggest surprise of camp and will be asked to get important outs, but he did not look good in two of his last three appearances.

“I feel pretty good about where he’s at,” Girardi said. “Obviously, that’s not how you want to end up in spring training, but he had a pretty good spring training. Today was not a good day. But he had a really dominant spring training if you eliminate today.”

» READ MORE: After losing 50 pounds, Phillies’ José Alvarado could be team’s closer with a 100 mph fastball

Brad Miller hit an RBI double in the third inning as he was in the lineup for the second straight day. The utility man missed nearly three weeks with an injured muscle in his side but appears to be on track for Thursday’s opener.

» READ MORE: Bryce Harper hopes to mentor Phillies top prospect Bryson Stott to the majors

The Phillies return to Philadelphia after six weeks in Florida. They’ll work out on Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park with Matt Moore throwing a simulated game. The Phillies hope to do the same on Wednesday for Chase Anderson. The regular season begins on Thursday against Atlanta with Aaron Nola facing Max Fried at 3:05 p.m.