Bryce Harper has been on the disabled list since late April, and there still is no specific timetable set for his return.
The 21-year-old outfielder was sidelined with a left thumb injury after sliding headfirst into third. Harper had surgery to repair his torn ulnar collateral ligament, and the original recovery period was thought to be six to eight weeks.
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That hasn't exactly changed, but it isn't quite set in stone either. MASN's Dan Kolko tweeted Thursday mroning that Harper said he isn't setting a timetable, and will be back only when he's healthy enough to play.
Nationals manager Matt Williams was a little more optimistic, according to the Washington Post's James Wagner, but acknowledged the fluidity of the situation.
"It’s one of those things where he’s 21 years old and if it doesn’t heal right it can affect him long term," Williams said. "I’d like to see back by the first of July. That’s a good target but we just don’t know how everything else goes.”
Harper was in good enough spirits to crack a joke about where he might be playing, now that Ryan Zimmerman has come off the DL to play in Harper's usual spot.
With Zim now playing LF, Harper said he isn't sure where he'll fit once he's back. Joked he'd like time behind the dish. "Give Ramos a day."
— Dan Kolko (@masnKolko) June 5, 2014
But for now, Harper will have to watch from the dugout as the Nats compete with Atlanta and Miami for the top spot in the NL East.