Following Tuesday Nights win over Cincinnati, Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh got an MRI which thankfully revealed no structural damage to his injured left knee/leg. Although the Phillies are fortunate Marsh may return to the field some time soon -The same case with reigning NL MVP Bryce Harper- the teams outfield depth is currently in question…
Simon Muzziotti, another left handed hitting centerfielder who had a cup of coffee with the team earlier this season, was shut down for the remainder of the 2022 campaign. Muzziotti is dealing with a knee injury of his own, and the Phillies would rather be safe than sorry when it comes to the health of their younger players. Odubel Herrera, Oscar Mercado, Mickey Moniak, and Roman Quinn, four more outfielders that have spent time with the Phillies this season, are no longer with the organization. Adam Haseley, who was with the club in spring training, was dealt before Opening Day. Depth in the outfield for the Fightins’ has been a question all summer long.
Nick Maton, an infielder by trade, was asked to play leftfield this past week versus the Reds, and he looked like he could play the position in a pinch when needed. Interim Manager Rob Thomson agreed, and stated he would be willing to use him (Maton) in the outfield again when necessary. However, for a team that went over the luxury tax this winter, another move appeared imminent following the decision to place Marsh on the Injured List…. Phillies fans, let’s get to know our newest outfielder, Bradley Zimmer. Zimmer has been claimed of the waiver wire from the Blue Jays.
Zimmer, a first round pick of the Cleveland Guardians organization back in 2014, made the big leagues with Clevland but never lived up to his first round potential. While with Clevland, Zimmer was a teammate of the aforementioned Oscar Mercado, and often matched up against his younger brother Kyle (Zimmer), who had a lengthy stint with the Kansas City Royals. Bradley Zimmer is a career .214 hitter, with 41 stolen bases to his name.
A left handed hitter, Zimmer tied his career high in home runs (8) last season, and has spent this season with the Blue Jays. In limited AB’s this year, 76 to be exact, Zimmer has hit a dismal .105, and has struck out 33 times. At 6’4”, Zimmer is a big dude and has a lot of pop in his bat. When he makes contact with the ball, it is going to go a long way. With that being said, there are definitely some holes in his swing, so it will be up to the Phillies to try and get the slugger back on track.
Matt Vierling, a right handed hitter, should still see a fair share of time in the outfield, especially centerfield, even after adding Zimmer. Vierling also has experience playing in the infield, but with the addition of Edmundo Sosa and the return of Jean Segura, it appears the team is committed to keeping Vierling in the outfield, at least for the time being.
Two more names to remember down in Triple-A are Johan Camargo, and Yario Munoz. Both Camargo and Munoz are viewed primarily as infielders, however, both players have experience as defenders in the outfield. Scott Kingery is another name to keep in the back of our minds. “Scotty JetPax” has been used primarily as an infielder this season with Lehigh Valley, but has logged some time in Center Field at Citizens Bank Park in the past. If anything, Kingery is a fan favorite and could provide some speed and versatility off the bench down the stretch, should the front office choose to go that route.
Philadelphia Sports Chronicle 