Bryce Harper is set to return to the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday, well ahead of his original timetable following Tommy John surgery.

After undergoing the procedure in late November, Harper was expected to be out at least through the All-Star break in July.

From the onset of his recovery, Harper targeted this week's series at Dodger Stadium as his ideal return, keeping it at the forefront of his mind as he navigated the monotony of his rehab.

"I wanted to put myself the earliest I could in my mind, the understanding to work towards something to get out there," he said. "It could've been the middle of April, it could've been the end of May, early May, but I wanted to put my mind on something to really take advantage of that."

Harper received final clearance Monday from Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who replaced the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow on Nov. 23.

He will return to the Phillies' lineup as their designated hitter for Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, a mere 160 days since the procedure.

Harper is the fastest known player to return from Tommy John surgery, according to research by ESPN Stats & Information, beating former infielder Tony Womack, who required a 182-day recovery in 2004.

Said Harper: "My body has been very good to me in this process."