Realmuto's Spring Training debut delayed
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J.T. Realmuto almost made his Grapefruit League debut on Sunday against the Tigers at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Fla. He might play in the next couple of days instead.
Phillies manager Joe Girardi scratched Realmuto from Sunday’s 5-3 loss to the Tigers with “general soreness.” Realmuto has been sidelined since last month, when he fractured his right thumb trying to block a ball in the dirt. He got 7-10 at-bats, plus caught and threw to every base during a simulated game on Saturday in Clearwater.
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Girardi said he saw no point in playing Realmuto on Sunday. He said he hopes to have Realmuto play in the next few days and then appear in back-to-back games before Opening Day on April 1.
Eflin, Howard take another step
Right-handers Zach Eflin and Spencer Howard have been sidelined recently with back issues, but both threw their scheduled bullpen sessions on Sunday. Girardi said he didn't receive an update, but he assumed no news is good news.
“I’ve got to believe everything went OK,” Girardi said.
Right-hander Vince Velasquez (oblique) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Monday.
Lately, Quinn doing what he needs
Roman Quinn pinch-ran for Darick Hall in the bottom of the seventh on Sunday, stole third and scored on a fielder’s choice. Quinn is batting .320 (8-for-25) with two doubles, three walks, nine strikeouts, three stolen bases and a .793 OPS this spring. He has struck out only once in his past 11 plate appearances (9.1 percent) after striking out eight times in his first 17 (47.1 percent).
“I told Q, ‘This might be what we do with you over the course of a game,” Girardi said. “I think it’s good that you’re prepared for it and understand how to do it and you get your legs loose,’ and that’s why we did it. But you look at everyone’s tools, that’s a tool and a talent that he has that everybody doesn’t have. It could be an advantage. We just kind of wait and see how these next eight or nine days play out.”
Odúbel Herrera is probably Quinn’s top competitor for the job in center field at this point. Herrera went 1-for-4 on Sunday. He is batting .242 (8-for-33) with three home runs, three RBIs, seven strikeouts, one stolen base and a .758 OPS.
“His at-bats have been OK,” Girardi said.