Two-time National League MVP Bryce Harper is “more than open” to returning to the outfield — where he played his first nine MLB seasons — if the Philadelphia Phillies can significantly upgrade at first base.

“I talked to them this offseason about that,” Harper told The Athletic in an interview published Wednesday. “Just in case a guy was available [at first] that we needed to have, needed to get. I’d be more than open to it, if we had a guy like that who was going to change our lineup or change the demeanor of our team. They like me at first base. But I’d go out there to have a guy who was going to play first base and hit 35 or 40 homers.

“When [Pete Alonso] was on the block still, I kind of sat there and was like, ‘Hey, why not?’ When we talked about it, I kind of just reiterated to [the Phillies] and Scott [Boras] that I’m willing to move out there if it’s going to help us. I love playing first base. It’s been great. But if it’s going to help us win, I’d go back out there.”

Alonso re-signed with the New York Mets, but he could again be available after this season if he opts out of his two-year deal. Slugging first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also is scheduled to become a free agent after failing to reach an extension with the Toronto Blue Jays this offseason.

Harper, who played catcher and first base prior to entering the majors, moved to the outfield — mostly playing right field — after he was selected by the Washington Nationals with the first pick in the 2010 draft. He hasn’t played the outfield since undergoing Tommy John surgery after the 2022 season — his fourth with the Phillies.

He told The Athletic that he doesn’t have a preference what position he plays, but it “would be awesome … unbelievable” if he won his first-ever Gold Glove at first base.

The 32-year-old Harper, who is entering his 14th major league season, has 336 career home runs and is aware that 500 is within reach.

“You’ve got to stay healthy. You’ve got to stay strong. You’ve got to be on winning teams, too, I feel like,” Harper told The Athletic. “Obviously, you can do it without that. But I feel like it just pushes you that much more to be great, being in an organization with a fan base that pushes you every day.

“Individual stats are great, but that one thing, man … that World Series. That’s what you want to do. All those things will take care of themselves if you’re winning and if you’re staying healthy. I’m not really too worried about it.”

The Baltimore Orioles are “very, very hopeful” that star shortstop Gunnar Henderson (intercostal strain) will be ready for Opening Day.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told reporters Wednesday that Henderson suffered a mild strain on his right side.

“I’m very, very hopeful. But we’re going to not push a strain there, and we want to make sure that he gets it taken care of. It’s one of those sensitive areas where we don’t want anything to reoccur,” Hyde said.

Henderson departed last Thursday’s 11-8 spring training victory over the Toronto Blue Jays after the first inning with what the team termed “lower right side discomfort.” Henderson made a leaping catch in the top of the first inning and apparently felt soreness after hitting the ground.

Henderson is batting .167 in six plate appearances so far this spring.

The 2023 American League Rookie of the Year earned his first All-Star nod in 2024 batting .281/.364/.529 with 37 home runs and 92 RBIs. He also stole 21 bases. He finished fourth in MVP balloting.

Henderson dealt with a left oblique injury during spring training in 2024 but recovered in time for the start of the regular season.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – New Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker was scratched from the lineup for a spring training game Wednesday because of soreness in his left oblique.

Walker missed more than a month last season with Arizona because of a strained left oblique muscle. He joined the Astros on a $60 million, three-year contract during the offseason.

In his first four spring training games for Houston, Walker was 4 for 8 with three doubles. He also had two walks.

Adding a first baseman over the offseason was a priority for the Astros after struggling Jose Abreu was released less than halfway through a $58.5 million, three-year contract.

Walker, who turns 34 on March 28, hit .251 with 26 home runs and 84 RBIs in 130 games for the Diamondbacks last season. He won his third consecutive Gold Glove at first base.

In 832 big league games, Walker has hit .250 with 147 homers. All but 13 of those games came with Arizona over the past eight seasons, after his MLB debut with Baltimore in 2014 and 2015.

Walker had two stints on the injured list because of right oblique issues in 2021. He played 160 games in 2022 and 157 in 2023, hitting 69 homers and driving in 197 runs combined over those two seasons.