OF Quinn focuses on staying healthy entering season

Hairline fracture of the right wrist. Ruptured Achilles’ tendon. Strained left quadriceps. Strained left oblique (twice). Hit in the head with a pickoff throw. Left elbow strain. Right middle finger strain. Oblique strain. Right groin strain (twice).

Those are the official list of injuries that have hampered outfielder Roman Quinn since he was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the second round of the 2011 draft.

Three times his season has ended in June, once in May. The most games he has played in a season is 92 over three levels in 2016.

So, it’s no surprise what Quinn’s objective is for this season.

“My goal is to stay healthy,” Quinn said Tuesday

at the annual local stop of the Phillies Winter Caravan at the Crowne Plaza Reading, Wyomissing. “That’s the only goal I have and however I do that, I’m gonna make it happen.”

If Quinn, a switch hitter who turns 27 in May, can stay healthy, he will provide speed and a level of excitement that the Phillies don’t otherwise have. He’s hit .243 with six homers, 23 stolen bases and a .703 OPS in 109 major league games.

“Why not use the skill God has blessed me with,” Quinn said, “that’s God’s gift of speed, and I like to show it as much as possible, whether that’s laying down a bunt, stealing bags, running down a ball in the outfield. Whatever I can possibly do to help the team win.”

Quinn said he and pitcher Vince Velasquez, also a guest Tuesday, sat with new manager Joe Girardi for about an hour on Monday. Quinn came away impressed.

“You could really tell about feeling his presence that he brings something different to the table,” Quinn said, “different from any other manager that I’ve had.

“He has a resume. He’s won a World Series, done some great things in baseball, been around a lot of great players and he looks really good. I’m excited.”

He’ll be even more excited if he can stay healthy and show more than just flashes of his obvious talent between trips to the injured list.

“I’ve thought about it all,” Quinn said of his litany of injuries. “It’s part of the game. You deal with it and you move forward. It’s made me a better person and I think it’s going to make me a better player as well.”