Making progress, Segura optimistic about a return
PHILADELPHIA » Jean Segura’s buoyant mood Friday wasn’t just for the balloon bouquet at his locker, marking Sunday’s 10th anniversary of his big-league debut. It was for the progress he’s made in healing a broken right index finger, which has him champing at the bit to get back on the field.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson is hopeful that by the end of the weekend, the team could have a plan for a rehab assignment for Segura, out since May 31. Segura is tentatively targeting the first week of August, when the Phillies return from a road trip.
“We’ll see in the next couple of days how I feel,” Segura said. “Today, I threw to the bases. I threw up to 120 feet yesterday. It’s coming in a good direction. I hope the next week, I’ll be able to play a rehab game, and when the team comes back from the road, that’s my guess.”
The injury happened sevenand-a-half weeks ago in San Diego and carried an original 10-to12-week prognosis. But Segura has progressed quickly. He’s hit for the last several weeks, and throwing is the last major hurdle for him to work on. He took batting practice before Friday’s game with the Chicago Cubs, working out as though he was going to start.
He’ll need games to get his timing dialed in, but he’s eager to get that chance. Even if Thomson, accounting for Segura’s enthusiasm, is reticent to put a timeline on it, he’s excited by the progress, too. Segura was transferred to the 60-day injured list, so he’s not eligible to return before the end of July.
“For me, I feel ready to go,” Segura said. “I feel it’s enough to play a baseball game at the major league level. It’s not my decision, I have to wait to get the trainers and everyone on the same page to see what the next step is.”
Segura was batting .275 with six homers, 19 RBIs and 22 runs scored in 44 games. With the way
Kyle Schwarber and Rhys Hoskins have owned the top two spots in the order, Segura would lengthen the middle of the lineup upon his return. He’d be a welcome upgrade over Bryson Stott, who has struggled some with a .188 average, six homers and 26 RBIs.
Stott’s deputizing is indicative, at least, of how others have stepped up without Segura and Bryce Harper, who is scheduled to be evaluated by surgeons Monday. There’s a chance the pins could come out of his thumb, but at the least, there will be a better idea of the plan for Harper moving forward.
As for Segura, he has watched his team gain ground in the standings in his absence. That means less desperation and more excitement as he eyes a return.
“I can’t wait to come back and contribute to the boys,” Segura said. “They’ve been doing a really good job. They’ve been playing such good baseball, even with myself out, Bryce out. They’re doing a good job.”
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Bailey Falter will start Sunday for the Phillies, Thomson said. He’ll follow Zack Wheeler, with Ranger Suarez going Monday to open a pivotal home series with Atlanta. Aaron Nola will follow.
That sets up Gibson and Wheeler for a two-game set in Atlanta Aug. 2-3, which was a consideration. The other was to get Wheeler and Nola some extra rest around the break.
“It’s kind of a combination of both,” Thomson said. “But always my main worry or thing that I think about is the health of the player and making sure, especially
Wheels and Nola, get the proper rest so that they’re going to be healthy and fresh coming down the stretch.”
Nola has thrown 126.2 innings, with a 3.13 ERA that is the second lowest of his career. He’s on pace for 222 innings, which would be a career high. Since getting a delayed start to the year, Wheeler has logged 99.2 innings with a 2.89 ERA, despite a rough go in his last outing in Toronto.
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As for the fifth leg of that rotation, an MRI Monday showed no structural damage in Zach Eflin’s knee. So the Phillies are embarking on what Thomson called “a really aggressive strengthening program.”
The club lacks a timeline, but
Thomson said he would “fully expect” Eflin to pitch again this season. Eflin continues to report soreness in the knee, but Thomson said the righty was feeling better Friday.
Eflin is 3-5 with a 4.37 ERA in 68 innings over 13 starts this season. Knee operations ended his 2016 and 2021 seasons early in what has become a chronic issue for the 28-year-old.
For now, Falter will get the nod, but Cristopher Sanchez is also an option. Thomson will assess it on a start-by-start basis. Falter is 0-2 with a 4.82 ERA over nine games (five starts) this season with a WHIP of 1.464 and an opponent’s batting average of .297. Sanchez is 1-1 with a 3.80 ERA in two starts (10 games total). Opponents are batting just .188 off him.