Edmundo Sosa Outfield Experiment continues, Aaron Nola makes Spring Training debut

On paper, asking Edmundo Sosa to switch positions might seem like a desperate move, but the more you look at the Phillies’ roster construction, the more it makes sense.

With Weston Wilson out for six weeks and Johan Rojas fighting for his job, the Phillies need a reliable right-handed bench bat who can handle multiple spots. Sosa might be that guy, even if it means learning on the fly—literally.

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The Phillies don’t need Edmundo Sosa to be a Gold Glove-caliber outfielder.

The last time Edmundo Sosa played center field, he had to borrow Kyle Schwarber’s glove. That was April 5, 2023, when a mid-game shuffle forced him into center at Yankee Stadium. Since then, he’s been strictly an infielder, but with the Phillies scrambling to put together a functional bench, his athleticism and adaptability are suddenly his biggest assets.

On Saturday against the Tigers, Sosa got his first real test in center field. He caught two fly balls, one in shallow left-center that he almost overran and another in left-center where he initially broke the wrong way. Not perfect, but manager Rob Thomson liked what he saw.

Phillies’ outfield depth is so bad that somehow Edmundo Sosa is now a “necessary” solution

The Phillies don’t need Sosa to be a Gold Glove-caliber outfielder. They just need him to be playable, and so far, he’s getting there.

Phillies Depth Is A Major Question Mark

Look at the current bench situation:

Garrett Stubbs or Rafael Marchán will be the backup catcher for the Phillies in 2025. Johan Rojas is currently fighting for a job and won’t be handed the fourth outfielder job. Kody Clemens & Buddy Kennedy are competing for another spot, but both are left-handed hitters.

If Edmundo Sosa proves he can handle the outfield, it gives the Phillies an extra right-handed option, allowing them to be used in center or left field when Max Kepler or Brandon Marsh need a break against lefties.

Johan Rojas would be optioned to Triple-A, giving either Kody Clemens or Buddy Kennedy a spot in efforts to balance the roster. Simply put, Sosa learning the outfield gives the Phillies more flexibility, and right now, they don’t have a better alternative.

Aaron Nola’s Spring Debut:

Nice work, Nols 👏

Two scoreless frames in his first spring outing! pic.twitter.com/MqliJZe1F8

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) March 1, 2025

While Edmundo Sosa was tracking fly balls, Aaron Nola was getting his first Grapefruit League work of the year. The Phillies’ ace threw two scoreless innings, struck out two, and allowed just one hit in a 1-0 loss to the Tigers.

Most notably, he didn’t throw a single curveball, instead working almost exclusively on fastball command and his changeup—a pitch that has been inconsistent the last two seasons. One of those changeups almost came back to bite him—literally. Tigers prospect Colt Keith smoked a 110.7 mph line drive that barely missed Nola’s head.

He’s hoping the changeup will become a more reliable weapon this year after hitters batted .279 against it in 2024 (compared to .222 in 2023).

Spring Training Notes:

• Edmundo Sosa playing the outfield isn’t just a Spring Training experiment anymore—it’s a legitimate necessity for a Phillies team short on right-handed bench bats.
• If he can handle it, he becomes their best backup option at multiple positions, giving them roster flexibility that they desperately need.
• Aaron Nola’s first start was all about refining his changeup, and while the results were solid, he’ll need to keep tweaking it before Opening Day.

It might not have been the original plan, but Sosa learning the outfield could be exactly what the Phillies need to round out their roster.

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