‘Would have been good to play one other 12 months’ with Phillies
Austin Hays stood at second base, the middle of the storm, and considered what might need been.
Hays was underneath crew management by way of this season when he received traded to the Phillies final July. However damage (a hamstring pressure) and sickness (a kidney an infection) conspired in opposition to him. He began solely 21 of 58 video games after the commerce, then wasn’t supplied a contract within the offseason.
So, when Hays banged an RBI double off the right-field wall Friday within the third inning of the Reds’ 9-6 victory over the Phillies, the chances got here flooding again.
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“Fourth of July, sellout crowd, the vitality of the stadium was precisely what I keep in mind,” Hays stated Saturday earlier than the vacation weekend collection continued. “That’s form of what I considered. Like man, the video games right here had been so enjoyable at residence. At all times offered out. Having a full 12 months of that, being wholesome, would have been actually thrilling. However issues didn’t work out.”
Not for the Phillies, not less than.
Hays, who turned 30 Saturday, landed on his toes with the Reds. He signed a $5 million contract — half of what the Phillies paid Max Kepler — and was batting .281 with seven homers and an .853 OPS because the Reds’ on a regular basis left fielder.
(Kepler, 32, who begins in left area in opposition to righties, was batting .210 with 10 homers and a .685 OPS.)
Phillies supervisor Rob Thomson stated Friday that the crew’s curiosity in bringing again Hays was outweighed by questions on whether or not he might bounce again. Hays was hospitalized by the kidney an infection final September, and though he returned, he wasn’t at full energy.
“That was probably the most tough factor I’d gone by way of in my profession,“ Hays stated. ”Only a actually, actually difficult time for me. I hoped [the Phillies] would have faith in me taking the offseason and getting my physique prepared.
“However they noticed how sick I used to be and the way tough it was for me and the way a lot I went by way of. There’s a threat in that for the subsequent season, and I believe they simply didn’t need to take that threat that perhaps I’d have some lingering results of what went on with the kidney.
“I hoped that I’d get to be again as a result of I really like the clubhouse over there. There’s a number of actually good gamers over there, guys with 10 years within the huge leagues and a number of guys which might be in all probability going to be Corridor of Famers, so it might have been good to play one other 12 months with them.”
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Satirically, the Phillies could possibly be purchasing for a righty-hitting outfielder at this commerce deadline, too, though the bullpen stays their high precedence.
Should you’re questioning, no, Hays isn’t anticipated to be out there. Not with the pitching-rich Reds firmly within the combine for a wild card underneath future Corridor of Fame supervisor Terry Francona.
“I nonetheless really feel like I’ve received a number of actually good years in me as an on a regular basis participant,” Hays stated. “With every thing that occurred final 12 months, to be within the state of affairs that I’m in, I’m pleased with the place I’m at. I really feel like I used to be pressured into free company a 12 months sooner than I believed I used to be going to be. However I really feel like I made the appropriate selection. We’ve received one thing particular occurring over right here.”
Hey now, you’re an All-Star
Though the Phillies had been shut out in fan voting to begin the All-Star Recreation, a number of gamers are anticipated to be named to the Nationwide League roster Sunday.
Zack Wheeler, second within the league with a 2.27 ERA, is a shoo-in and will find yourself being the NL’s beginning pitcher. (The All-Star Recreation shall be performed in Atlanta, Wheeler’s hometown.) He could possibly be joined on the NL pitching employees by Ranger Suárez or fellow lefty Cristopher Sánchez.
Amongst place gamers, Kyle Schwarber is third within the NL with 27 homers. Trea Turner has made a powerful case, too, however shortstop is loaded, with Elly De La Cruz (Reds) and CJ Abrams (Nationals) additionally meriting consideration behind starter Francisco Lindor (Mets).
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Further bases
After the ultimate out Friday, NBC Sports activities Philadelphia cameras caught Nick Castellanos shouting and gesturing to a fan behind the Phillies’ dugout. Thomson stated the fan made a remark to Bryson Stott, who fouled out to finish the sport, and “his teammates had been defending him.” … Mick Abel is scheduled to begin Thursday for triple-A Lehigh Valley. Abel received despatched down Friday after permitting 9 runs in 4⅔ innings over his final two begins. He had a 5.04 ERA in six begins general. … Wheeler (8-3, 2.27 ERA) is scheduled to begin the collection finale at 1:35 p.m. Sunday in opposition to Reds rookie Chase Burns (0-1, 13.50).