Adam Haseley hopes to make most of his second chance
PHILADELPHIA >> Adam Haseley waited 23 years to debut in the major leagues. He never expected the thrill to vanish so soon.
“Twenty-four hours,” the Phillies’ outfielder was saying Monday afternoon, before a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. “I think that’s how long it was that I was on the field and healthy.”
With many from his family making the flight from Florida, Haseley played one night in June in San Diego. The following afternoon, he started again, went 3-for-4 and injured his groin running the bases.
And that was it.
Two games. Less than a day. And a spot on the injured list.
“I just knew I couldn’t play at 100 percent,” Haseley said. “And I didn’t want to put myself out there and be a halfhealthy player for this team. That’s mostly why I decided to say something. I thought it was in the best interest of myself, as well as helping this team, for me to get back to being fully healthy.”
It took a while, a trip back to the minors for some rehab and a continuing disintegration of the Phillies’ depth, but Haseley made it back to the majors over the weekend. Saturday night, he pinch-ran in a loss to the Nationals. Sunday, he started in center and went 1-for-3 in a 4-3 victory.
“I was a little less nervous,” said the eighth overall pick in the 2017 draft. “I was more focusing on our game and, more importantly, trying to help us win. But it was my first time being in a game here. So I definitely had some adrenaline. My heartbeat was going pretty fast.”
Gabe Kapler considered starting the left-handed-hitting Haseley Monday, but chose to trust Jay Bruce against Clayton Kershaw.
“We could have given Jay a blow,” Kapler said. “We had an opportunity to get him off his feet. Haseley is going to play for us. I’m not saying he’s going to play every day, but he’s going to get regular opportunities. Part of this is getting him off on the right note. And having him play against Kershaw in his second game just didn’t feel like the way to build his confidence.
“Jay has a long history with Kershaw. I’m not saying it’s been spectacular by any stretch. But he knows what to expect when he goes out there. He does have a home run off of him. And it feels like between the two of them, that was the right play.”
Update: Jay Bruce came to the plate with the bases loaded in each of his first two at-bats against Kershaw. He flew out and struck out, stranding six baserunners.
••• Though tormented by a marble-sized bone spur in his pitching arm, Jake Arrieta had no complaints a day after pitching five effective innings Sunday. He will remain in his regular spot in the rotation.
“Yes, as of now,” Kapler said. “As he throws pitches, I think he gets more sore. And we saw that yesterday. One of the things I am encouraging Jake to do is to share with me how he is doing every step of the way so we can protect him and we can protect the Phillies simultaneously.”
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Ever challenged by injuries to relief pitchers, Kapler has begun to outline a key role for left-handed Ranger Suarez.
“One thing we’re toying with is using Ranger against a stretch of lefties in a really high-leverage spot,” Kapler said. “He’s had a lot of success against left-handed batters since he’s been here. The sample is not huge, but it’s not tiny anymore, and I am dating back to last year. So we’re just giving him a chance to work on that a little
bit. He’s a good athlete. So maybe he’s a guy we can lean on in big moments. We’ll work on that and see.”
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Out since April 15 with right-elbow soreness, David Robertson recently suggested the All-Star break to late July as a target for a return.
But nothing is imminent. “It’s just been a slow process,” Kapler said. “I think what he’s searching for is, ‘I feel good. I’m not feeling any soreness. The ball is coming out right and I can really let it rip and not have any trepidation.’ He hasn’t gotten to the point of full confidence yet.”
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The Phillies considered reactivating Juan Nicasio from the injured list Monday. He is almost certain to be active Tuesday. The right-handed reliever has been on the injured list since July 4 with a groin strain.
••• Though the Phillies technically have named starting pitchers for the remaining three games of the series, Kapler has not ruled out the possibility of using “an opener” against the Dodgers’ many dangerous highin-the-order left-handed hitters.
But with the avalanche of injuries to his relief staff, Kapler could not commit to that, aware that he might have to use as many arms as possible to win games early in the series.
Vince Velasquez (2-5, 4.63 ERA) is scheduled to face right-handed Walker Buehler (8-1, 3.46) Tuesday at 7:05. Wednesday night, it is likely to be Nick Pivetta (4-4, 5.81) and right-handed Kenta Maeda (7-6, 3.82). Thursday afternoon at 12:35, Aaron Nola (8-2, 3.63) and righthander Ross Stripling (4-3, 3.65) will pitch.