Regarding an Everyday Center Fielder, Gabe Kapler Says "We Don't Have One Right Now"
A frank Gabe Kapler admitted today on the WIP morning show that there’s basically a competition for the center field spot in the Phillies lineup.
Odubel Herrera opened the season in that role and has struggled mightily, hitting .157 in May with a .526 OPS. The position-less Scott Kingery may or may not be the answer as he bounces around the diamond in his continued utility role with the club, mustering two hits in 11 at-bats over just four appearances this month.
Kingery has been all over the place during his brief Phils’ tenure, and Kapler still sees him as a flexible infielder, at least at this point in his career:
“I think Scott Kingery profiles best as a guy who plays a little third, a little short stop, a little second base, a little outfield, but certainly we’re not putting any limitations on it. If he’s the best option to go play center field every day, he’ll go play center field every day. I don’t think that’s what’s happening right now. I think it makes sense to give Maikel Franco a blow and Cesar Hernandez a blow. Scott’s a really good infielder as well as being capable in the outfield. But I think for the Philadelphia Phillies, to give us the best chance to win long term, he plays multiple positions for us.”
Kapler did acknowledge Herrera’s recent struggles, leaving the door open to a change if necessary: (after the jump) –
“I’ll say this – I acknowledge that Odubel has not been the player that we all know he can be. He hasn’t been the hitter in the box that we know he can be. It’s a little early to start kind of taking him out of that position completely, but certainly it’s a competition out there, and I said that in Spring Training; the guy who gives us the best opportunity to win every night at that position, will play. As you’ve seen the last couple nights, Scott’s played out there, today it’s more likely Odubel gets back out there in center field against Jon Lester. I think it’s more likely Scott Kingery plays in the infield for us. But I’m not making any long-term declarations about who the everyday center fielder is going to because we don’t have one right now.”
“We don’t have one right now”
