The groin of Phillies SS Jean Segura just couldn’t wait to get back to the East Coast.
Potentially on the way to his third career All-Star bid, Segura awkwardly met his maker as he busted down the line to first. That’s how it always happens, though; an injury inflicted on a play ultimately inconsequential to the outcome. Welcome to Philadelphia.
While he deals with a Grade 1 strain to his left groin, the Phillies are scrambling to replace their starting second baseman for what could be up to three weeks.
Whoever that may be will have big shoes to fill and I mean size fourteen.
Segura’s quietly been the Phillies’ sweet, sweet offensive MVP. Only Zack Wheeler (4.5) has been responsible for more Wins Above Replacement than Segura’s 2.4. Another reason Segura’s injury directly pulverizes the nether regions of the Phillies (maybe not as much as his).
Alas, nothing we can change so let’s take a look at his potential replacements.
Nick Maton
Yet again, it’s time to unfurl the red carpet for Nick Maton, one of my favorite Phillies of 2021. He’s my vote to fill in for Segura.
I know he struggled towards the end of his freshman tour with the Phillies, but I enjoyed how he played, and I think you can do worse than an athletic, ‘doubles power’ eight-hole hitter. At the very least, he should be getting looks against right-handed pitching against whom he owns an OPS of .936 and both of his home runs.
We’re not looking to reinvent the wheel. Give him another chance, Joe.
Brad Miller
I genuinely don’t think the Phillies could have gotten by this season without the 31-year-old transplant. Miller ranks fourth on the team with 53 games played. Not sure the Phillies foresaw that development when they signed him to a one-year deal worth $3.5MM.
Miller’s drawing a walk in 9.4% of his at-bats along with sporting a Hard Hit Rate of 39.7%. That tells me that he’s seeing the ball well, and his .264 BA has nowhere to go but up. Not to mention, his six homers rank fourth on the team, and he’s not shy about hitting it the other way.
If I’m a betting man, Miller’s role doesn’t change much following Segura’s injury. If anything, he sees time in right-field as Bryce Harper works to get healthy.
Luke Williams
The debut of Luke Williams inspired us all. I don’t remember a Phillies rookie bursting onto the scene like that since Rhys Hoskins. Indeed something to behold.
But now it’s time to get serious, young man. Today’s the day you prove you can play every day. Then, if you can play, we’ll even forgive you for this nonsense.
Take this with a behemoth grain of salt, but Williams’ OPS through nineteen at-bats is 1.263. So let’s think about throwing him out there until Major League pitching has enough video to scout him.
Scott Kingery
I’ll say, quite unlikely. The Phillies didn’t send him back to Lehigh to tease him back for less than a month.
It doesn’t even make sense for him to return. Kingery is out of options, so if he plays well, the Phillies risk losing him for good if he plays poorly, then he’s a liability. Minimal upside.
This would take another couple injuries to come to fruition. Sad this hasn’t worked out.
Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire
