Nationals' Baker: Harper 'very close' to return from knee injury

Bryce Harper's comeback is on the horizon.

Harper has missed the last six weeks after hyperextending his left knee and suffering a "significant bone bruise" on Aug. 12, when his leg slipped off first base against the San Francisco Giants. A report Tuesday suggested the Nationals were optimistic Harper would return at some point next week, and on Saturday, manager Dusty Baker all but confirmed the superstar outfielder will be back in the lineup soon.

"He's very close," manager Dusty Baker said, according to Mark Zuckerman of MASN. "We just have to talk to him and get a true evaluation of how he feels. And 'true' is the key word. We know he's champing at the bit to come back, and we're champing at the bit to have him back.

"We have to do what’s best for him and for us in the long run, as well as the short."

Prior to the injury, Harper was having a bounce-back year after a below-standard 2016 campaign. The 24-year-old was slashing .326/.419/.614 with 29 home runs in 106 games this season.