Bryce Harper’s debut at first base for Phillies is delayed — maybe until the weekend

If you were expecting Bryce Harper to play his first game at first base Tuesday, well, blame it on the rain.

Harper was unable to do his usual pregame work at first base Sunday because steady rain delayed the Phillies’ game at Citizens Bank Park by three hours. He couldn’t practice Saturday, either, because of a day-night doubleheader, so the Phillies decided to push back his debut by a few days.

After previously saying Harper would play first base this week against the Brewers, manager Rob Thomson would not commit to a specific series or day. It’s possible Harper doesn’t play first base until the weekend series in Cleveland.

» READ MORE: ‘God, it’s hard’: Kyle Schwarber can relate to the challenge that Bryce Harper faces in moving to first base

“There’s a chance, I guess,” Thomson said of Harper playing first base before the weekend. “But we’re probably going to have him back it up a little bit. Maybe not in this series [against Milwaukee]. We just have to see how he comes in [Wednesday].”

Asked what Harper has to do in practice before being ready for a game, Thomson said “just general work.”

“There’s no boxes to check anymore,” Thomson said. “We just need to get him moving and get him out there, keep getting him ground balls. We just haven’t been able to get him out these last few days.”

Thomson said Harper feels “comfortable” at first base but knows “it’s more my decision than his” about when he will make his first start at the new position.

The Phillies want to get a look at Harper at first base before the Aug. 1 trade deadline. If he’s able to play the position — and early returns have them believing that he will be — they can move Kyle Schwarber to designated hitter and consider acquiring a righty-hitting outfielder to play left field.