Was Odubel Herrera’s hot day yesterday enough to land him on the Phillies’ Opening Day roster?
Throughout the entirety of Spring Training, Odubel Herrera has been fighting for a chance to make the Phillies’ Opening Day roster. After yesterday’s game against the Detroit Tigers, he might have finally earned his spot.
Odubel Herrera ht a home run to right-center field in the first inning. He then doubled to left in the fourth inning and singled to shortstop in the sixth inning. The Phillies lost the game 9-8, but Herrera ended his day with three hits and a team-high four home runs this Spring.
Herrera entered the game competing against Roman Quinn and Adam Haseley for the Phillies’ starting centerfield role. After starting off Spring red hot, Herrera has cooled down the last few weeks. He is batting .255 (12-for-47) with one double, four home runs, one walk, 10 strikeouts, and a .803 OPS.
Conversely, Roman Quinn started off Spring Training ice cold but has improved his play over the past few weeks. He is currently sidelined with food poisoning but could play today. Quinn is batting .294 (10-for-34) with two doubles, one home run, three walks, 13 strikeouts, and a .792 OPS. Haseley, who was injured the majority of Spring Training, hit a bases-clearing double in the fourth inning yesterday and is now batting .250 (4-for-16) with one double, one home run, two walks, four stirkeouts, and a .833 OPS.
The other name in competition would have been Scott Kingery, who had a double in the seventh inning yesterday. Jetpax SZN had a really rough Spring and is batting .159 (7-for-43) with three doubles, one home run, four walks, 19 strikeouts, and a .525 OPS. The Phillies announced today that he will be sent to the minor-leagues to start the 2021 season.
Given the fact that Kingery is now on the move to the minor leagues, it’s likely that the starting centerfield position will come down to Odubel Herrera and Roman Quinn. The Phillies are down an infielder now for their Opening Day roster. It’s unclear how they plan to carry Herrera, Quinn, and Haseley into Opening Day. They also have Brad Miller, Matt Joyce, and Andrew Knapp on their bench. Don’t be surprised if Ronald Torreyes cracks the roster as a bench option in the infield, leaving one of the three remaining centerfielders out of a job.
When looking at who will make the final roster and start in centerfield for the Phillies on Opening Day, it’s not all about Spring Training numbers. In almost every article I have written about the Phillies this Spring, I’ve stated time and time again that it’s only Spring Training and you can’t focus on the numbers. Track records, quality at-bats, and overall roster considerations will certainly come into play as the Phillies and Joe Girardi decided on the final roster.
We’ll find out everything over the next 2-3 days.
Mandatory Credit: MLB.com
