Rojas isn’t only outfielder with April dry spell at plate
Johan Rojas didn’t start in centerfield for the second straight game Friday night at Citizens Bank Park, but hey, don’t get too excited.
“He’ll be back in there tomorrow,” manager Rob Thomson predicted.
What perhaps was an easier prediction coming out of spring training is the way Rojas’ first two weeks of the season have gone. Through Thursday, he was slashing all of .161/.235/.194. But at least he was coming on — Rojas has five hits this season, four of them in the threegame series against the Cardinals that wrapped up prior to Thursday’s series opener against the Pirates at home.
Three of those four hits came in the same game in St. Louis. And yet, when they got home, Rojas wasn’t penciled into the lineup for the first two games.
“Want him to sit and watch for a bit,” Thomson said.
The timing might seem curious, but it’s not really all that surprising, since Brandon Marsh, by far the team’s best hitter in the early going (team-leading .333 average and four homers), is rapidly playing himself into an ever more active role.
Asked if Marsh has already earned something at least approaching daily starting status, Thomson said, “I think so. … Again, he doesn’t have much to show for (hitting against lefties), but I think we have to keep getting him some reps because I think he’s going to hit against lefties at some point.”
Thomson said he also wants to see more out of Whit Merrifield, the heralded utility man acquisition who entered Friday’s game not even stroking at a Rojas level (.143/.217/.143).
“I think he’s grinding,” Thomson said of Merrifield. “Nothing to show for it yet, but I think he’s grinding. He’s working at bats and seeing a lot of pitches.”
While history ensures Merrifield should be fine — he’s a career .283 hitter, albeit his eight previous seasons were all in the American League — there’s probably not too much concern about the other outfielder, Nick Castellanos. He came to the plate in the second inning Friday night brandishing a .152 batting average.
Castellanos can do bad streaks like the best of them. He can also hit a bevy of longballs over a run of days on occasion.
But there’s no question that the mutually slow starts by three of the four Phillies outfielders had helped them get off to a mediocre start that, considering the way the team has pitched, should have been better.
Of course, the season has only just begun.
But as far as the great experiment with Rojas as the starting man in the middle of the outfield with the golden glove and the hollow bat, the question begs how long the Phillies can be patient with him before discussing whether or not a demotion to Lehigh Valley would be the best thing for him, after all.
For now, Thomson is indicating that the slow start at the plate hasn’t impacted the young guy’s spirit.
“He still has energy; he still comes around and does his work,” Thomson said of Rojas. “He’s
a young guy coming to the big leagues, trying to hold (his) own and not having much to show for it. It can wear on you. But I think he’s handling it very well.”
•••
Thomson played up Pirates starting pitcher Bailey Falter before the game, saying that since Falter had left the Phillies after the 2022 World Series, the improvement was obvious.
“He’s got that extension, spin rate and his fastball gets on you pretty good,” Thomson said. “His secondary pitches have improved.”
•••
NOTES » The Phillies debuted their MLB “City Connect” uniforms for the first time Friday night. They’re royally blue and black, colors that
had nothing to do with the history of the Phillies organization. So, there’s that. … Spencer Turnbull (10, 0.00 ERA) makes his third start in place of Taijuan Walker Saturday against the Pirates. Turnbull, an offseason acquisition targeted for long relief, has pitched 11 innings in two prior starts, allowing no earned runs and five hits, with 13 strikeouts against one walk. … Walker (right shoulder impingement) is on a longterm rehab assignment essentially meant to serve as a spring training for him. … Expect Orion Kerkering (forearm strain) to be available to return to the club as early as Sunday. … Big shoutout to the loud and clear national anthem singers Friday night, a choir of students from St. Pius X in Broomall.