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

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Over the last few months, as Bryce Harper went through near-daily pregame workouts to learn to play first base, Kyle Schwarber poked his head out of the Phillies’ dugout to watch.

“It’s hard,” Schwarber said Thursday. “God, it’s hard.”

Schwarber would know. Two years ago, after getting dealt to the Red Sox at the trade deadline, Schwarber was told he would play first base for the first time in his career. It was an adjustment.

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“You’re so close [to the batter],” Schwarber said before the Phillies wrapped up a series with the Rays at Tropicana Field. “Everything was just closer. When you hit that 100-mph rocket at the first baseman, you don’t realize how quick it gets there until you’re over there. Wow.”

Schwarber started nine games at first base for the Red Sox down the stretch and nine in the playoffs. He botched a routine grounder in Game 3 of the AL Division Series, then famously raised his arms and pumped his fist later in the game after backhanding a ball and flipping it to the pitcher.

Nothing like comic relief to appease the Fenway Park crowd.

Like Harper, Schwarber was a catcher before he got drafted and moved to the outfield in pro ball. He has peeked at Harper’s work with infield coach Bobby Dickerson, which began with grounders and footwork around the base.

But Harper is getting closer to playing first base in a game. He took full-fledged infield practice last week and began uncorking throws to second base Tuesday. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him play first base shortly after the All-Star break.

Schwarber’s advice: Take your time.

“As close as you are, you get over there and you realize that you have time [to make a play],” Schwarber said. “It feels like you’re not going to have time because you feel like you just bobbled it or whatever it is. It’s just trying to be able to slow things down. That’s going to be the thing.

“Bobby’s giving him the right pointers, and he’s doing everything right. It’s just going out there and doing it in the game and getting comfortable over there.”

Schwarber never got entirely comfortable. The Phillies signed him before last season to be a left fielder and designated hitter. Even after Rhys Hoskins went down with a season-ending knee injury in spring training, the Phillies didn’t consider using Schwarber at first.

“I’m happy I’m back in the outfield grass,” Schwarber said, chuckling.

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But Schwarber stands to benefit, too, from Harper moving to first.

It would free up the DH spot, occupied by Harper after he tore a ligament in his elbow in April of last season and since he returned in May from Tommy John surgery. Schwarber hasn’t moved well in the outfield and rates as the majors’ worst defender at any position, according to defensive runs saved.

Regardless, Schwarber can relate to what Harper is trying to do.

“It’s difficult. It really is,” Schwarber said. “You definitely have a lot of appreciation for what he’s going to do whenever he does step over there. It’s really cool to see it. We’ve got all the faith in the world in him. The guy’s an athlete. He’s not just a baseball player.

“When he does get over there, everyone’s just going to be helping him out as much as we can. I think that just the more reps you get, the better you’ll get.”

For only the second time in 17 games, J.T. Realmuto wasn’t in the lineup. Phillies manager Rob Thomson chose to give the iron man catcher a breather to keep him fresh for all three division games against the Marlins.

Realmuto leads the majors with 636 innings behind the plate. He caught 48 more innings — the equivalent of nearly six games — than any other catcher through Wednesday and was on pace to start a career-high 139 games. Last year, he started 130.

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Thomson said Realmuto has mentioned that the shorter games this season, a product of the pitch clock, have enabled him to get more time to recover.

“What he’s told me is that he feels fresher this year than in any other year,” Thomson said. “He feels like it’s probably because of the pace of the game.”

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Seranthony Domínguez, sidelined since June 16 with a strained muscle in his side, is scheduled for another bullpen session Saturday in Miami. He likely will go on a minor league assignment after the All-Star break. ... Outfield prospect Gabriel Rincones Jr. belted his first homer for high-A Jersey Shore after getting promoted earlier in the week. ... The Phillies promoted hard-throwing reliever Orion Kerkering to double-A Reading. ... Zack Wheeler (7-4, 4.03 ERA) will start Friday night in Miami against Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara (3-7, 4.93).