With Wilson out 6 weeks, Kennedy ‘comes into play a little bit more’ for Phillies originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
LAKELAND, Fla. — Rob Thomson approached Buddy Kennedy on Friday with a question.
“Can you play first base tomorrow?”
Weston Wilson, who had been slated to start at first in the Phillies’ Grapefruit League opener Saturday, had just strained his oblique in the batting cage.
This is the time of year when one player’s injury is another’s opportunity.
“I said absolutely, I played it last year with Toledo a little bit in (the Tigers’) Triple A system,” Kennedy said. “See the ball, catch the ball.”
Kennedy did more than that on Saturday, walking during a three-run Phillies rally in the third inning and hitting a line-drive, two-run home run to left field in his next plate appearance.
“Cool homer, man,” a couple of his former Tigers teammates joked as they walked past Kennedy meeting with a group of reporters after exiting.
Kennedy is battling for the final role on the Phillies’ four-man bench. One spot will go to Edmundo Sosa, one to the backup catcher, one likely to Johan Rojas and the other was a competition between Wilson, Kennedy, Kody Clemens and Cal Stevenson. At least entering Saturday.
Wilson will miss six weeks with a moderate oblique strain, Thomson said after the Phillies’ 7-6 walk-off loss to the Tigers. It’s a brutal blow for a player who was trying to make his first Opening Day roster.
Wilson had the inside track to the Phillies’ final bench job because of his right-handed bat and ability to play both infield corners, both outfield corners and even a little shortstop and center field.
His setback changes that race.
“Hopefully he’s back in six weeks,” Thomson said. “It’ll take a while. It’s very sad for all of us, including him of course. Wes Wilson’s a great guy. Everybody loves him. He’s a great teammate.
“Buddy comes into play a little bit more now. If Sosa can play the outfield, maybe it’s a left-handed bat. I think we’ve got some options still.”
The Phillies have been working out Sosa in the outfield and plan to get him work in left and center this spring. Wilson’s injury only increases the importance of Sosa taking to the outfield. If Sosa can become playable in left or center, Clemens’ chances of making the Opening Day roster increase because the final bat wouldn’t need to be right-handed.
The Phils could also add someone in February or March who isn’t in…