Bryce Harper arrives in Phillies camp with healthy back, Phanatic bat

Ever the showman, Bryce Harper arrived Tuesday at the Carpenter Complex with a red “Clearwooder” T-shirt and a Phanatic bat.

“I love the stuff he comes out with,” Phillies manager Joe Girardi said.

But Harper’s back, as much as his bat, was a topic of conversation after his first spring-training workout, which occurred one day after the Phillies’ first full-squad session because he had to complete COVID-19 intake testing.

Harper was hampered during the second half of last year’s 60-game season by lower back pain that grew so unbearable down the stretch that he had to serve as the designated hitter for the final four games and five of the last seven.

By all accounts, Harper is healthy and unrestricted this spring. But the Phillies will take things slowly with their superstar right fielder. And take it from Girardi, who played through back problems during his 15-year major-league career: The situation must be monitored.

“He feels really good,” Girardi said. “I just know that [back problems] can rear their ugly head because I am a back patient. I’ve herniated the L4-L5 [vertebrae], T2-T3, and I’ve had to deal with it. I know that you have to stay on top of it, you have to keep a pulse, and sometimes you might [feel] a little cranky one day for no rhyme or reason, just the movement that you made.

“We’re really pleased with where he’s at, we’re excited where he’s at. But I think there has to be constant communication.”

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The impact of the injury was evident last season. Harper was batting .338 with six homers and a 1.147 OPS in 86 plate appearances through Aug. 21. As the back pain worsened, he batted .230 with seven homers and an .860 OPS in his last 158 plate appearances.

But Harper likely will occupy the No. 3 spot in the batting order again this season, according to Girardi. In addition to being the Phillies’ $330 million face of the franchise, Harper is the lefty-hitting fulcrum of the offense. Girardi, then, said the Phillies will keep a “watchful eye” on the 28-year-old superstar to make sure his back doesn’t flare up.

Girardi’s impression of Harper after getting to know him last season: “It’s really good to see that everything he does is genuine. He works extremely hard, he loves his craft, he loves to play, he plays hard. He’s real. This is who Bryce is.”

And it didn’t surprise Girardi that Harper came prepared with new Philly-centric swag. He did, after all, wear Phanatic cleats in his first game with the Phillies two years ago.

“I’m always curious certain days, whether it’s Mother’s Day or Father’s Day or opening day, what his shoes are going to be,” Girardi said. “I’m always curious and kind of thinking, ‘Man, I wish I had a little style.’ But that was not one of my blessings.”

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Phillies games will continue to air on WIP-FM (94.1) this season and beyond.

Entercom Communications reached a multiyear contract extension for radio broadcast rights to Phillies games, according to a statement. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Play-by-play announcer Scott Franzke and analysts Larry Andersen and Kevin Frandsen will continue to call the games. Longtime pregame and postgame host Jim Jackson was let go in October.

WIP, which was bought by Entercom in 2017, has carried Phillies games since 2012.

Seven players, including shortstop Didi Gregorius, remain absent from camp because of visa issues. Girardi is hopeful they will arrive this week. ... The Phillies open the Grapefruit League schedule Sunday against the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland, Fla.