Addition of Felix Reyes could mean more time in left field for Kyle Schwarber
Schwarber has started only 13 games in left field over the last two seasons.
One day before the Phillies called up Felix Reyes in an attempt to add much-needed right-handed power, manager Rob Thomson was asked about the 25-year-old’s work-in-progress defense in left field.
“I don’t know how you define ‘rough,’ but he needs reps,“ Thomson said the other day. ”How about that?“
Reyes figures to get reps in left field when the Phillies face left-handed starting pitching. But Thomson said it’s important to get him in the lineup against some righties, too, to keep his bat from rusting, à la Otto Kemp, optioned to triple A with two hits in only 20 at-bats.
It’s possible, then, that Reyes could see time as the designated hitter or at first base (with Bryce Harper at DH). In either scenario, Kyle Schwarber would have to play left field.
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That’s fine by Schwarber, even though he has started only 13 games in left field over the last two seasons.
“It’ll be all right,” he said Sunday before the Phillies capped a series against the rival Braves in Citizens Bank Park. “Just try to go out there and get to the balls I can get to and try to catch them. It’s not like anyone’s expecting me, [Reyes], whoever to try to make the spectacular diving catch, right? You’re going out there trying to make the plays you need to make and get the ball to where it needs to be.”
Schwarber ranked among the worst outfield defenders in baseball in 2023 when he started 103 games in left field while Harper was limited to DHing while coming back from elbow surgery.
But Schwarber also was playing through a knee injury for most of that season.
“That’s pretty much all said and done now,” he said. “I feel like I would be moving around better than how I used to be moving around out there.
“I don’t know that I ever want to feel like I’m stuck to the DH position. If someone needs to get off their feet for a day, I want to give them that flexibility to do that.”
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Waiting on Realmuto
J.T. Realmuto was being checked by the Phillies’ medical staff after exiting Saturday night’s game with what the team characterized as “low back tightness.” The iron-man catcher didn’t start and was only available “in an emergency,” according to Thomson.
Asked if Realmuto may need to be placed on the injured list, Thomson said, “I don’t think so.”
Realmuto jammed his back on a play at the plate Friday night. The discomfort subsided before tightening up Saturday.
Garrett Stubbs, who likely would join the Phillies to back up Rafael Marchán if Realmuto needed to be sidelined, played Sunday in St. Paul, Minn., for triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Extra bases
Top prospect Aidan Miller is fielding ground balls at the Phillies’ training facility in Clearwater, Fla., and “doing every except for swinging,” according to Thomson. Miller has been sidelined since mid-February with a lower back injury. “We’re hoping to get him going this week,” Thomson said, “if everything goes well.” ... Aaron Nola (1-1, 4.03 ERA) is scheduled to start Monday night in Chicago against Cubs righty Colin Rea (2-0, 3.63).
Gage Wood might have pitched the best game in college baseball history 10 months ago. Now, with Andrew Painter in the majors, Wood is the Phillies’ top pitching prospect. The 22-year-old righty joins Phillies Extra, The Inquirer’s baseball podcast, to discuss his strong start to the season. Watch here.
You can also subscribe to the podcast version of Phillies Extra on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Previous episodes: Scott Boras | Brian Barber | Aaron Nola | Justin Crawford | Garrett Stubbs | Kyle Schwarber | Brad Keller | J.T.Realmuto | Orion Kerkering | Whit Merrifield
