Phillies Exploring Surprising Option in Center Field

When Matt Vierling was traded to the Detroit Tigers, it didn’t leave the Philadelphia Phillies with many solid options to back up Brandon Marsh in center field.

Edmundo Sosa may be the best option.

The ultra-talented infielder has been learning the center field position and could wind up supporting Marsh.

“We’re going to experiment a little bit,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson told reporters at BayCare Ballpark. “We’re going to get Sosa some work in the outfield, especially in center field. We think he can do it.”

Marsh played mostly against right-handed pitchers in the regular season and the playoffs.

MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki noted that Marsh has a career .732 OPS against right-handers and a career .519 OPS against lefties.

“We’re looking for a right-handed guy to take that spot (in center) every once in a while,” Thomson said. “But having said that, (Sosa is) still an infielder and a really good one. We’re not taking that away from him at all.”

About one month ago, Thomson discussed the idea with Sosa.

“He was all in,” Thomson said. “In fact, the way that he answered the question, it almost seemed like he had already thought about it.”

The Phillies could also turn to Dalton Guthrie, Jake Cave, Simon Muzziotti or Johan Rojas.