Phillies

Haseley and Quinn Make Phils’ Opening Day Roster, Herrera Does Not

By Bob Wankel

Published: Mar 29th, 2021 · 6:24 PM EDT

---

The great Phillies center field debate of 2021 is over at last.

Well, at least for now.

The Phillies announced late Monday afternoon that Adam Haseley will be part of the team’s Opening Day roster. Roman Quinn will also be part of the 26-man roster that opens the season against the Braves this Thursday.

Odubel Herrera, who at various points earlier in the spring appeared poised to make the club, will open the season at the team’s alternate site in Lehigh Valley.

It has been well-documented that Herrera got off to a hot start this month, but that stretch was followed by a two-week cold spell right as Quinn began putting together better at-bats. Herrera, of course, was arrested in May 2019 following a domestic violence incident with his girlfriend. He was subsequently suspended and has not played in a regular season game with the Phillies since.

As for Haseley, it appeared he would miss Opening Day after suffering a left adductor (groin) injury early in camp, but he returned to action earlier than expected last week and performed well in the stretch run of the position battle.

The final spring numbers of all three players:

• Quinn: .270/.341/.405 (41 PA)
• Haseley: .316/.381/.526  (21 PA)
• Herrera: .231/.245/.481 (53 PA)

It has been frequently pointed out that both Quinn and Haseley are on the Phillies’ current 40-man roster, while Herrera is not.

Still, procedural convenience and moral debates aside, it’s hard to argue the Phillies aren’t rolling with the two guys who simply played the best.

Herrera may potentially offer the most offensive upside of the three players, but he also posted a .245 OBP with one walk in 53 plate appearances this spring. He didn’t exactly force the team’s hand over the last two weeks, and he probably had to do that in order to make the club.

As for who will start in center for the Phillies on Opening Day, the guess here is that Quinn will be the guy.

Manager Joe Girardi was reluctant to play Haseley against left-handed pitchers last season. Lefty Max Fried is slated to start for the Braves, so Quinn, who has a .770 career OPS against LHP, could get the call.