Herrera off to minors as center field battle decided
Adam Haseley and Roman Quinn are still in, and Odubel Herrera is again on the outs, at least for now.
That was the end product of a long and speculative spring training that had the Phillies’ starting center field job up for grabs.
Herrera, who had been charged with domestic assault after an incident with his girlfriend in Atlantic City on Memorial Day weekend of 2019, sat out the remainder of that season and all of last season. His girlfriend wound up not pursuing charges and the couple is still together. Having successfully completed an MLB suspension and anger management courses, Herrera came to mini-camp then spring training and offered public apologies along the way to teammates.
He started hot offensively in spring training but tailed off toward the end. Haseley sat through a groin injury but last week impressed coaches with his work at the plate, while Quinn survived a bout with food poisoning. The other center field candidate, Scott Kingery, will join Herrera at the minor league auxiliary camp in Allentown in preparation for the start of the Triple-A IronPigs season, tentatively scheduled for May 4.
“You look at the player that you think is going to provide the most productivity,” Phillies manager Joe Girardi said Monday, prior to the final cut announcement on Twitter. “At this level we’re in the business of production. Yes, there is some development that takes place at the bigleague level, absolutely, because guys get more familiar with who they are and the other side is and they learn things. But it comes down to production and that’s what we’re going to make our decision on.”
Girardi noted that Haseley had a few good days at the plate during the last week of spring. He had two hits in the Phils’ final Grapefruit League game Monday, a loss to Toronto.
As for Quinn, the Phillies would like to see more consistency at the plate from him, as his superb speed is a weapon Girardi really values.
“The speed element, as well, factors in,” Girardi said.
What wasn’t a factor? According to Girardi, Herrera’s arrest nearly two years ago.
“People are allowed to have their feelings, and I understand that, but Odubel paid a hefty price,” Girardi said. “Some people are going to think it’s enough and some people aren’t going to think it’s enough. I can’t really control that. I can control who we think is going to help our team the best and how it affects our team.
“There’s been players that in a sense have lost everything, too. We’re aware of players that have lost a lot. Hey, you make a choice; you spend a lifetime trying to build a reputation and you can destroy it like that (in a finger snap). They lose a lot. I’m not sure if it’s considered a double standard, but it’s just kind of the way it’s worked.”
• • •
The Phillies made the decision Sunday to send lefty reliever JoJo Romero to the minor league auxiliary camp, leaving only new acquisition and potential closer Jose Alvarado as a lefty in the bullpen. But Alvarado was knocked around by the Blue Jays Monday, the second time
that has happened in his last three outings.
“I feel pretty good about where he’s at,” Girardi said. “Obviously that’s not how you want to end up in spring training, but he had a pretty good spring training. Today was not a good day but he had, really, a pretty dominating spring training if you eliminate today.”
• • •
NOTES » Girardi said he was happy with how starter Zach Eflin performed in a five-inning outing Monday. Eflin felt the same way, even if he thought his command could have been better. But he hadn’t had such a long outing in nearly two weeks
after straining his back. “I felt a little pop and it stiffened up on me,” Eflin said. “I’m not concerned with it at all. I did that in batting practice when I was throwing more pitches and I kind of landed funky. It was just a really awkward pitch. I tried to throw a curveball and landed super-weird and felt a little pop. But I’m not concerned with it.” ... The Phillies headed north late Monday and will start the regular season Thursday against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. Aaron Nola will start the season opener (3 p.m.), with Zack Wheeler Saturday and Eflin Sunday.