Reading's Roman Quinn adjusting well to double-A
READING -- Roman Quinn has had a lot of adjustments to make in his minor league career, but so far he has adapted well during his first season in Double A for Reading.
The Phillies converted Quinn to a switch-hitter after selecting him in the second round of the 2011 draft from Port St. Joe High in Port St. Joe Florida. That was the first major adjustment.
Quinn was slowly progressing until suffering a season-ending hairline fracture of his right wrist on June 24, 2013 while playing for low Single-A Lakewood. Then during the offseason he ruptured his right Achilles while working out.
Quinn came back sooner than expect, returning May 19 of last year with advanced Single-A Clearwater. And then the next month another adjustment was needed when the Phillies moved Quinn from shortstop to center field.
Last season he hit .257 in 327 at-bats and stole 32 bases for Clearwater.
This year he has been durable, appearing in 46 of Reading's first 48 games and entering Sunday he was leading the Eastern League with 23 stolen bases, was tied for first with five triples and tied for second with 34 runs scored.
Quinn was batting .301 with a .344 on base percentage.
"Definitely the key for me has been staying healthy," Quinn said before Saturday's 4-3 win over the visiting Richmond Flying Squirrels. "If you are hurting there is no way you can get better and I feel blessed to be out there."
As for switch-hitting, Quinn, who turned 22 on May 14, says things continue to get more comfortable.
"I feel I have matured a lot and it comes with all the reps and playing the game more," said Quinn, who is a natural righthanded hitter.
This season he was hitting .289 righthanded and .304 lefthanded entering Sunday.
As with switch-hitting, Quinn continues to get more comfortable with playing center field.
"Things are going real well," he said. "I am getting better jumps and getting a feel how to play out there."
Among the Phillies top prospects, Quinn had a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League, where he led the league with 14 stolen bases and was second with 19 runs scored.
He has continued the momentum in the first two months of the season, so much so that it might not be out of the question to see him in the big leagues sometime late next season.
